TXT records are one of the most versatile DNS record types. Originally designed to hold arbitrary text, they've evolved to serve critical functions in email security, domain verification and service configuration.
What TXT Records Look Like
example.com. IN TXT "v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all"
example.com. IN TXT "google-site-verification=abc123xyz"Common Uses of TXT Records
1. SPF (Sender Policy Framework)
SPF TXT records define which mail servers are authorised to send email from your domain. They help prevent email spoofing.
v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all2. Domain Verification
Google Search Console, Mailchimp, HubSpot and dozens of other services ask you to add a TXT record to verify that you own a domain before granting access.
google-site-verification=abc123xyz3. DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail)
DKIM TXT records store a public key used to verify that email from your domain hasn't been tampered with in transit.
4. DMARC
DMARC TXT records set policies for how receiving mail servers should handle emails that fail SPF or DKIM checks.
5. Other Services
Microsoft 365 verification, Atlassian products, SendGrid, Mailgun and many other services use TXT records for verification and configuration.
Multiple TXT Records
Unlike MX or CNAME records, a domain can have multiple TXT records on the same name. However, SPF should only have one — multiple SPF records cause delivery failures.
How to Check TXT Records
Use our DNS Lookup tool — select "TXT" and enter your domain. All TXT records for the domain will be displayed.