imap_search limit the number of messages returned

Question

Hi, I have PHP script that fetch messages from a mailbox. I use the imap_search function: $emails = imap_search($mbox, 'UNSEEN');

Is there a way to limit the number of returned messages. Right now on huge mailboxes i get like 5000 messages. I want only the top 20 ordered by date.

Is there a way to do that?

Thanks.

Answer 1

The imap_search function has a CRITERIA attribute you can use to limit the messages in a number of ways:

ALL - return all messages matching the rest of the criteria
ANSWERED - match messages with the \ANSWERED flag set
BCC "string" - match messages with "string" in the Bcc: field
BEFORE "date" - match messages with Date: before "date"
BODY "string" - match messages with "string" in the body of the message
CC "string" - match messages with "string" in the Cc: field
DELETED - match deleted messages
FLAGGED - match messages with the \FLAGGED (sometimes referred to as Important or Urgent) flag set
FROM "string" - match messages with "string" in the From: field
KEYWORD "string" - match messages with "string" as a keyword
NEW - match new messages
OLD - match old messages
ON "date" - match messages with Date: matching "date"
RECENT - match messages with the \RECENT flag set
SEEN - match messages that have been read (the \SEEN flag is set)
SINCE "date" - match messages with Date: after "date"
SUBJECT "string" - match messages with "string" in the Subject:
TEXT "string" - match messages with text "string"
TO "string" - match messages with "string" in the To : UNANSWERED - match messages that have not been answered
UNDELETED - match messages that are not deleted
UNFLAGGED - match messages that are not flagged
UNKEYWORD "string" - match messages that do not have the keyword "string"
UNSEEN - match messages which have not been read yet

Answer 2

imap_sort will allow you to both sort and filter at the same time

But still, it won't allow to limit to the 'top 20' right at the function call.