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IMAPlib Lib/imaplib.py folders with spaces in their names #148770
Description
Documentation
https://docs.python.org/3/library/imaplib.html
Using the select function : The documentation could be updated to read :
"If the mailbox (or folder) name includes a space (E.G. my important mail) then use
select('"my important mail"')
Activity
pythongh-148770: Document quoting requirement for IMAP mailbox names …
vadmium commentedon Apr 20, 2026
I think this may not be limited to the select method. Perhaps it is better to expand the paragraph about quoting arguments under https://docs.python.org/3/library/imaplib.html#imap4-objects? That also needs updating since the automatic quoting mechanism it describes was removed in the Python 3 transition (Issue #92835).
Issue #68215 is also open about documenting IMAP parameter and return values in general.
serhiy-storchaka commentedon Jul 5, 2026
imaplib now quotes mailbox names automatically since GH-152703, so the manual-quoting workaround no longer needs documenting. The paragraph about argument quoting in the docs was updated as part of that change.