message store (X.400) (MS)

A message store( MS) is a functional instance of a message handling system( MHS) according to X.400/88, arranged between user agent( UA) and message transfer agent( MTA), with tasks in the context of message storage and message retrieval.

The message store forms an archive that can be accessed using the P7 protocol, a Message Store Access Protocol( MSAP). The P7 protocol supports query functions for the message store, and P7 can also be used to post messages.

The message store stores entries that consist of multiple attributes. The attributes in turn consist of an attribute type and an attribute value. The attributes are divided into classes; attributes of one class refer to the recipient or the sender, attributes of another class to content-specific data.