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# Cyrus IMAP

# Which database backend should I use for which databases?

Here's a brief summary of the major database types:

- Skiplist: Proprietary Cyrus Format, fast enumeration, moderately fast write, moderately fast random access, binary support

- Flat: Easy to maintain format, fast enumeration, very slow write, moderate random access, no binary support

The default database backend for each database is the type currently recommended by the Cyrus developers. Please reference the imapd.conf(5) manpage for your version of Cyrus imapd to see what the defaults are.