What does PST mean? What do the PST files contain?

In MS Outlook, PST stands for "Personal Storage Table." A PST file is a data file used by Microsoft Outlook to store email messages, calendar events, contacts, tasks, and other data locally on your computer. It essentially serves as a local repository for all your Outlook-related information.

Here are some key points about PST files and what they contain:

• Email Messages
• Calendar Events
• Contacts
• Tasks
• Notes
• Folders and Hierarchies

It's important to note that PST files are typically used for accounts configured with the "POP3" or "IMAP" protocols, where the data is downloaded and stored locally on your computer. In contrast, accounts configured with "Exchange" or "Microsoft 365" typically use a different storage mechanism on the server-side, and their data is not stored in PST files on the local machine.