Very basic example of using Python and IMAP to iterate over emails in a gmail folder/label. http://www.voidynullness.net/blog/2013/07/25/gmail-email-with-python-via-imap/

gmail_imap_example.py

#!/usr/bin/env python
#
# Very basic example of using Python and IMAP to iterate over emails in a
# gmail folder/label.  This code is released into the public domain.
#
# RKI July 2013
# http://www.voidynullness.net/blog/2013/07/25/gmail-email-with-python-via-imap/
#
import sys
import imaplib
import getpass
import email
import email.header
import datetime

EMAIL_ACCOUNT = "notatallawhistleblowerIswear@gmail.com"
EMAIL_FOLDER = "Top Secret/PRISM Documents"


def process_mailbox(M):
    """
    Do something with emails messages in the folder.  
    For the sake of this example, print some headers.
    """

    rv, data = M.search(None, "ALL")
    if rv != 'OK':
        print "No messages found!"
        return

    for num in data[0].split():
        rv, data = M.fetch(num, '(RFC822)')
        if rv != 'OK':
            print "ERROR getting message", num
            return

        msg = email.message_from_string(data[0][1])
        decode = email.header.decode_header(msg['Subject'])[0]
        subject = unicode(decode[0])
        print 'Message %s: %s' % (num, subject)
        print 'Raw Date:', msg['Date']
        # Now convert to local date-time
        date_tuple = email.utils.parsedate_tz(msg['Date'])
        if date_tuple:
            local_date = datetime.datetime.fromtimestamp(
                email.utils.mktime_tz(date_tuple))
            print "Local Date:", \
                local_date.strftime("%a, %d %b %Y %H:%M:%S")


M = imaplib.IMAP4_SSL('imap.gmail.com')

try:
    rv, data = M.login(EMAIL_ACCOUNT, getpass.getpass())
except imaplib.IMAP4.error:
    print "LOGIN FAILED!!! "
    sys.exit(1)

print rv, data

rv, mailboxes = M.list()
if rv == 'OK':
    print "Mailboxes:"
    print mailboxes

rv, data = M.select(EMAIL_FOLDER)
if rv == 'OK':
    print "Processing mailbox...\n"
    process_mailbox(M)
    M.close()
else:
    print "ERROR: Unable to open mailbox ", rv

M.logout()

gmail_imap_python3.py

#!/usr/bin/env python
#
# Very basic example of using Python 3 and IMAP to iterate over emails in a
# gmail folder/label.  This code is released into the public domain.
#
# This script is example code from this blog post:
# http://www.voidynullness.net/blog/2013/07/25/gmail-email-with-python-via-imap/
#
# This is an updated version of the original -- modified to work with Python 3.4.
#
import sys
import imaplib
import getpass
import email
import email.header
import datetime


EMAIL_ACCOUNT = "notatallawhistleblowerIswear@gmail.com"

# Use 'INBOX' to read inbox.  Note that whatever folder is specified, 
# after successfully running this script all emails in that folder 
# will be marked as read.
EMAIL_FOLDER = "Top Secret/PRISM Documents"


def process_mailbox(M):
    """
    Do something with emails messages in the folder.  
    For the sake of this example, print some headers.
    """

    rv, data = M.search(None, "ALL")
    if rv != 'OK':
        print("No messages found!")
        return

    for num in data[0].split():
        rv, data = M.fetch(num, '(RFC822)')
        if rv != 'OK':
            print("ERROR getting message", num)
            return

        msg = email.message_from_bytes(data[0][1])
        hdr = email.header.make_header(email.header.decode_header(msg['Subject']))
        subject = str(hdr)
        print('Message %s: %s' % (num, subject))
        print('Raw Date:', msg['Date'])
        # Now convert to local date-time
        date_tuple = email.utils.parsedate_tz(msg['Date'])
        if date_tuple:
            local_date = datetime.datetime.fromtimestamp(
                email.utils.mktime_tz(date_tuple))
            print ("Local Date:", \
                local_date.strftime("%a, %d %b %Y %H:%M:%S"))


M = imaplib.IMAP4_SSL('imap.gmail.com')

try:
    rv, data = M.login(EMAIL_ACCOUNT, getpass.getpass())
except imaplib.IMAP4.error:
    print ("LOGIN FAILED!!! ")
    sys.exit(1)

print(rv, data)

rv, mailboxes = M.list()
if rv == 'OK':
    print("Mailboxes:")
    print(mailboxes)

rv, data = M.select(EMAIL_FOLDER)
if rv == 'OK':
    print("Processing mailbox...\n")
    process_mailbox(M)
    M.close()
else:
    print("ERROR: Unable to open mailbox ", rv)

M.logout()