如何使用Python中的imaplib在给定日期过滤掉多个发件人的电子邮件？

Question

I am using the imaplib4 search function as of now and calling it multiple times for each email id. I tried looking everywhere on the internet to look for a format that would let me specify email ids in OR and a date.

As of now this format is working for me but I can only specify one email at a time so I make a call per email id.

(FROM "abc@email.com" (ON "25-Dec-2015")) 

In case I have abc and def both sending me emails on that date, I would like a way to specify it in one call.

Answer 1

If your server is RFC compliant and has a full search implementation you can chain together ORs. A simple search should look something like

ON "25-DEC-2015" OR FROM "abc@email.com" FROM "def@email.com"

OR takes two search predicates. If you need to chain them, embed an OR in the other one:

ON "25-DEC-2015" OR FROM "abc@email.com" OR FROM "def@email.com" FROM "ghi@email.com"

Not a very nice syntax, and it probably won't work beyond a handful of addresses. Probably won't work on 'off-brand' IMAP servers.