> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.civic.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# IMAP

> Read, search, and manage email via the IMAP protocol

## Overview

The IMAP server enables AI assistants to access and manage email accounts using the IMAP protocol, supporting reading, searching, organizing, and deleting messages across any IMAP-compatible email provider.

<Card title="Add to Civic" icon="plus" href="https://app.civic.com">
  Connect IMAP at app.civic.com
</Card>

## Available Tools (11)

| Tool                | Description                                                                     |
| ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `copy_emails`       | Copy emails to a different folder, keeping originals in place                   |
| `delete_emails`     | Delete emails by UID (soft delete to Trash or permanent)                        |
| `get_attachment`    | Download a specific attachment by filename from an email                        |
| `get_email`         | Fetch complete email content including body, all headers, and CC/BCC recipients |
| `get_email_headers` | Lightweight header-only fetch (subject, sender, date, Message-ID, etc.)         |
| `get_folder_status` | Retrieve folder statistics including total messages and unread count            |
| `list_attachments`  | List attachment metadata for an email (filename, MIME type, size)               |
| `list_emails`       | List emails in a folder with pagination, returning newest first                 |
| `list_folders`      | List all folders and mailboxes in the IMAP account                              |
| `mark_emails`       | Mark emails as read/unread or flagged/unflagged                                 |
| `move_emails`       | Move emails to a different folder, removing them from the source                |
| `search_emails`     | Advanced email search with filters for sender, subject, date, body, and flags   |

***

## Guardrails

In addition to the [14 universal guardrails](/civic/concepts/guardrails), this server has **14 server-specific guardrails** across 6 operations.

<Note>
  IMAP has a rich, operationally-specific guardrail set — covering batch size limits, deletion protection, verified sender enforcement, and sensitive search term blocking.
</Note>

| Guardrail                              | Operation        | Timing   | Description                                                      |
| -------------------------------------- | ---------------- | -------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Maximum Copy Batch Size                | `copy_emails`    | Request  | Limits copies to max 50 per operation                            |
| Delete Folder Restriction              | `delete_emails`  | Request  | Restricts which folders emails can be deleted from               |
| Maximum Delete Batch Size              | `delete_emails`  | Request  | Limits deletes to max 10 per operation                           |
| Prevent Permanent Deletion             | `delete_emails`  | Request  | Forces soft-delete to trash instead of permanent deletion        |
| Protect INBOX from Deletion            | `delete_emails`  | Request  | Prevents deleting directly from INBOX                            |
| Attachment Verified Senders Only       | `get_attachment` | Response | Blocks attachment downloads from unverified senders              |
| Email Verified Senders Only            | `get_email`      | Response | Blocks email content from unverified senders                     |
| List Emails Verified Senders Only      | `list_emails`    | Response | Redacts email list content from unverified senders               |
| Maximum Mark Batch Size                | `mark_emails`    | Request  | Limits marks to max 100 per operation                            |
| Allowed Destination Folders            | `move_emails`    | Request  | Restricts which folders emails can be moved to                   |
| Maximum Move Batch Size                | `move_emails`    | Request  | Limits moves to max 50 per operation                             |
| Protected Source Folders               | `move_emails`    | Request  | Prevents moving emails out of protected folders                  |
| Block Common Sensitive Terms in Search | `search_emails`  | Request  | Blocks searches for passwords, SSN, credit cards, API keys, etc. |
| Block Custom Sensitive Terms in Search | `search_emails`  | Request  | Blocks searches for org-specific sensitive terms                 |

<Tip>
  Configure guardrails via the Civic UI or ask the Configurator Agent: "Add guardrails to my IMAP server."
</Tip>