GLOSSARY

What is an SPF record?

An SPF record lists which servers may send email for your domain, fighting spoofing. Learn how SPF works and look yours up free.

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An SPF (Sender Policy Framework) record is a TXT record in DNS that lists which mail servers are authorized to send email on behalf of your domain. Receiving servers use it to detect forged senders.

How SPF stops spoofing

When a server receives mail claiming to be from your domain, it checks the sending IP against your SPF record. If the IP is not listed, the message fails SPF and is likely rejected or marked as spam. This makes it much harder for spammers to forge your domain as the sender.

Getting it right

An SPF record names your allowed senders (your mail provider, marketing tools, etc.) and ends with a policy like ~all (soft fail) or -all (hard fail). Listing too few sources bounces legitimate mail; too many weakens protection. A DNS lookup shows your current SPF TXT record.

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FAQ

Where does an SPF record live?›
In a TXT record on your domain, starting with "v=spf1".
What is the difference between SPF, DKIM and DMARC?›
SPF authorizes sending IPs, DKIM signs messages, and DMARC tells receivers what to do when SPF/DKIM fail.

Related

What is a TXT record?A TXT record holds arbitrary text in DNS, used for domain verification and email policies like SPF and DKIM. Learn how and look one up free.What is an MX record?An MX record tells the internet which mail server handles email for a domain. Learn how MX records and priorities work, and look one up free.How to do a DNS lookupLook up a domain’s DNS records — A, AAAA, MX, TXT, CNAME — from our servers. Step-by-step, plus what each record tells you.