Javascript IMAP and SMTP client?

Question

Is it possible to build a SMTP/IMAP client that can run in the browser that uses only Javascript?

Answer 1

It's currently not possible to do in a normal web app in the browser. It is however possible to do in packaged apps with access to privileged APIs:

• Firefox Apps use the emerging W3C standard TCPSocket
• Chrome Apps use a proprietary API chrome.socket

If you're looking for a battle-proven library, whiteout.io develops and maintains a well-tested IMAP / SMTP / MIME-codec implementation in pure JS: emailjs.

It's MIT licensed and free to use.