RFC 5256 · PROPOSED STANDARD · 2008
SUN · 14 JUN 2026
Internet Message Access Protocol - SORT and THREAD Extensions
Overview
RFC 5256, “Internet Message Access Protocol - SORT and THREAD Extensions”, is a Proposed Standard document published in June 2008 by M. Crispin, K. Murchison. It has since been updated by RFC 5957. The canonical text is published by the RFC Editor.
Abstract
This document describes the base-level server-based sorting and threading extensions to the IMAP protocol. These extensions provide substantial performance improvements for IMAP clients that offer sorted and threaded views. [STANDARDS-TRACK]
What “Proposed Standard” means
An entry-level standards-track specification: stable, peer-reviewed and a solid basis for implementation, though it may still evolve before becoming an Internet Standard.
Read this RFC
The canonical text of RFC 5256 is hosted at rfc-editor.org. Available in TXT,HTML.
Relationships to other RFCs
Other RFCs from 2008
- RFC 5255 Internet Message Access Protocol Internationalization
- RFC 5257 Internet Message Access Protocol - ANNOTATE Extension
- RFC 5254 Requirements for Multi-Segment Pseudowire Emulation Edge-to-Edge
- RFC 5258 Internet Message Access Protocol version 4 - LIST Command Extensions
- RFC 5253 Applicability Statement for Layer 1 Virtual Private Network Basic Mode
- RFC 5259 Internet Message Access Protocol - CONVERT Extension
- RFC 5252 OSPF-Based Layer 1 VPN Auto-Discovery
- RFC 5260 Sieve Email Filtering: Date and Index Extensions