Re: Understanding Reference Names

[Mark Crispin]

A reference name of " " is not the same as a reference name of "".  Also, 
to avoid possible ambiguity, it is better that non-empty reference names 
terminate with the hierarchy delimiter, e.g.
	tag LIST "Specials\\" Read
rather than
	tag LIST Specials Read

Consider the following command:
	tag LIST "Specials\\Fred" Read
A server may assemble this as either "Specials\\Fred\\Read" or as 
"Specials\Read".

In general, yes, a reference name is not a mailbox itself, but rather a 
directory which contains mailboxes.

As an aside, I disapprove of the practices of mailboxes under INBOX and 
Trash mailboxes.  IMAP does not prohibit either of these practices, but 
these practices are associated with substantial client and user confusion.

-- Mark --
http://staff.washington.edu/mrc
Science does not emerge from voting, party politics, or public debate.
Si vis pacem, para bellum.