Read the list of mailboxes, returning detailed information on each one

# imap_getmailboxes

(PHP 4, PHP 5, PHP 7, PHP 8)

imap_getmailboxes — Read the list of mailboxes, returning detailed information on each one

### Description

imap_getmailboxes(IMAP\Connection `$imap`, string `$reference`, string `$pattern`): array|false

Gets information on the mailboxes.

### Parameters

`imap`

  An IMAP\Connection instance.

`reference`

  `reference` should normally be just the server specification as described in imap_open()

  Warning

  Passing untrusted data to this parameter is insecure, unless imap.enable_insecure_rsh is disabled.

`pattern`

  Specifies where in the mailbox hierarchy to start searching.

  There are two special characters you can pass as part of the `pattern`: '`*`' and '`%`'. '`*`' means to return all mailboxes. If you pass `pattern` as '`*`', you will get a list of the entire mailbox hierarchy. '`%`' means to return the current level only. '`%`' as the `pattern` parameter will return only the top level mailboxes; '`~/mail/%`' on `UW_IMAPD` will return every mailbox in the ~/mail directory, but none in subfolders of that directory.

### Return Values

Returns an array of objects containing mailbox information. Each object has the attributes `name`, specifying the full name of the mailbox; `delimiter`, which is the hierarchy delimiter for the part of the hierarchy this mailbox is in; and `attributes`. `Attributes` is a bitmask that can be tested against:

- `LATT_NOINFERIORS` - This mailbox not contains, and may not contain any "children" (there are no mailboxes below this one). Calling imap_createmailbox() will not work on this mailbox.

- `LATT_NOSELECT` - This is only a container, not a mailbox - you cannot open it.

- `LATT_MARKED` - This mailbox is marked. This means that it may contain new messages since the last time it was checked. Not provided by all IMAP servers.

- `LATT_UNMARKED` - This mailbox is not marked, does not contain new messages. If either `MARKED` or `UNMARKED` is provided, you can assume the IMAP server supports this feature for this mailbox.

- `LATT_REFERRAL` - This container has a referral to a remote mailbox.

- `LATT_HASCHILDREN` - This mailbox has selectable inferiors.

- `LATT_HASNOCHILDREN` - This mailbox has no selectable inferiors.

The function returns `false` on failure.

### Changelog

Version | Description
--- | ---
8.1.0 | The `imap` parameter expects an IMAP\Connection instance now; previously, a valid `imap` resource was expected.

### Examples

Example #1 imap_getmailboxes() example

`<?php
$mbox = imap_open("{imap.example.org}", "username", "password", OP_HALFOPEN)
or die("can't connect: " . imap_last_error());
$list = imap_getmailboxes($mbox, "{imap.example.org}", "*");
if (is_array($list)) {
foreach ($list as $key => $val) {
echo "($key) ";
echo imap_utf7_decode($val->name) . ",";
echo "'" . $val->delimiter . "',";
echo $val->attributes . "<br />\n";
}
} else {
echo "imap_getmailboxes failed: " . imap_last_error() . "\n";
}
imap_close($mbox);
?>`

### See Also

- imap_getsubscribed() - List all the subscribed mailboxes

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