maildir
mail storage format where each email is stored as a separate file in
TLDR
Create Maildir structure
$ mkdir -p [~/Maildir]/{cur,new,tmp}
List new messagescopy
$ ls [~/Maildir/new/]
Move message to readcopy
$ mv [~/Maildir/new/message] [~/Maildir/cur/]
Check Maildir permissionscopy
$ ls -la [~/Maildir/]
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SYNOPSIS
Maildir/ - Directory-based email storage format
DESCRIPTION
Maildir is a mail storage format where each email is stored as a separate file in a directory structure. It consists of three subdirectories: cur (read), new (unread), and tmp (in-progress delivery).Maildir avoids file locking issues of mbox format and allows concurrent access from multiple programs.
DIRECTORY STRUCTURE
$ Maildir/
├── cur/ # Read messages
├── new/ # Unread messages
├── tmp/ # Temporary (delivery)
└── .Folder/ # Subfolders (ISTRSTRSTRSTRSTRSTRSTRSTRSTRSTRSTR
├── cur/
├── new/
└── tmp/
├── cur/ # Read messages
├── new/ # Unread messages
├── tmp/ # Temporary (delivery)
└── .Folder/ # Subfolders (ISTRSTRSTRSTRSTRSTRSTRSTRSTRSTRSTR
├── cur/
├── new/
└── tmp/
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FILE NAMING
$ # Format: time.pid.hostname:2,flags
1234567890.12345.hostname:2,S
Flags: S=Seen, R=Replied, F=Flagged, T=Trashed, D=Draft
1234567890.12345.hostname:2,S
Flags: S=Seen, R=Replied, F=Flagged, T=Trashed, D=Draft
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CAVEATS
More files than mbox. Filesystem must support many small files. Some tools expect specific naming. Subfolders prefixed with dot.
HISTORY
Maildir was developed by Daniel J. Bernstein for his qmail MTA in 1995 as a reliable alternative to the traditional mbox format.
SEE ALSO
mutt(1), dovecot(1), offlineimap(1)