Empty trash folder

[lonix1]

I read the README and various other discussions. I understand that IMAP "deletion" is a two-step process: 1) mark message as deleted, and 2) expunge.

On my (non-Gmail) IMAP server, messages are moved to a "Trash" folder rather than being deleted. If I want to then truly delete them, I can "empty" that folder using the server's web interface or a local mail client like Outlook/Thunderbird.

(This IMAP server has a setting to immediately delete rather than use the trash folder. I prefer not to use that though, unless there's no choice.)

Is it possible to perform the "emptying" action using MailKit? (If I empty trash using Thunderbird, that folder is emptied on the server too, so it should be possible.)

[lonix1]

UPDATE: After some trial-and-error I found a way to "empty" the trash.

• As shown in the README, open Inbox folder, delete messages and expunge folder
• Open the "Trash" special folder (if it exists), then find those messages again (because I'm unsure whether I can use the same uids from before), mark them as deleted, and expunge that folder

Is this the normal approach? (I assume it won't work on all IMAP servers.)

[jstedfast]

(because I'm unsure whether I can use the same uids from before)

They will not have the same UIDs.

Is this the normal approach? (I assume it won't work on all IMAP servers.)

If it works, then it's the right approach :-)

This is a non-standard IMAP server behavior so it's a bit "whatever works"

[lonix1]

is a non-standard IMAP server behavior

Just to be certain, do you mean that "standard" behaviour is a delete+expunge performs a permanent delete (no trash folder involved)?

[jstedfast]

Correct. The IMAP protocol does not define any Trash folder at all.

[lonix1]

The number of workarounds, gotchas and kludges in SMTP/POP/IMAP is enough to make one's head spin. And some of the RFCs are decades old. I don't understand how you can hold all that arcane knowledge in your head!

This library is incredible, thanks for maintaining it. And all the best for 2025!

[jstedfast]

Been working on email-related stuff for over 25 years, so it has been mostly internalized at this point. Probably started back in '98 or '99 on implementing my first email client.