A webmail application permits you to send and receive emails through an Internet browser without having to set up an email address in an app like Outlook or Thunderbird. When you travel, for instance, you are able to check your emails from an Internet café and you will not need to download, install or configure anything at all. Webmail apps are advanced enough to present you with many options like having an address book or creating folders that will afterwards come in your email client. As a webmail software works with the messages on the server, it is essential that you apply the IMAP protocol if you create an email account on your computer. You can still use webmail if you choose POP, but older e-mails will not be accessible since they'll have been downloaded on your computer. You can take advantage of webmail as long as there is any sort of e-mail set up in your web hosting account and using an email application prior to being able to use webmail isn't a prerequisite, so you can control your electronic communication entirely via a web browser.