A TXT record holds arbitrary text associated with a hostname. Although originally meant for human-readable notes, it is now mostly used for machine-readable data.
Common uses include:
- Domain verification for services like Google Search Console, Microsoft 365 or certificate authorities.
- SPF (
v=spf1 ...) listing servers allowed to send your mail. - DKIM public keys, usually at
selector._domainkey.example.com. - DMARC policy at
_dmarc.example.com.
A domain should have only one SPF record; merge multiple senders into a single record instead of publishing several.
Find your domain
Related terms
- DNSSEC
- DNSSEC adds cryptographic signatures to DNS records so resolvers can verify answers are authentic and have not been forged or tampered with.
- TTL (Time to Live)
- TTL is the number of seconds a DNS record may be cached by resolvers before they must look it up again, affecting how fast changes take effect.
- Domain parking
- Domain parking means registering a domain without an active website, often showing a placeholder or ad page while it awaits use or sale.
- Domain flipping
- Domain flipping is buying domain names at low cost and reselling them for a profit, usually through aftermarket marketplaces or direct outreach.