What is DNS SPF record?

SPF - type of DNS records use specifiacly for email. It is used in domain settings and contains information about the servers from which the owner authorises emails to be sent from your domain. This is important for security and prevents spam from being sent on your behalf.

How does SPF Record work?

An SPF record contains a list of IP addresses and servers that can send mail from your domain. When an email is sent, recipient server checks your domain's SPF record. If sender's IP address is not listed in SPF record, email may be flagged as suspicious or spam. Mail servers that receive emails from your domain can use SPF to make sure they are sent from servers you authorise. A domain can have only one SPF record, but you can specify multiple servers and third-party mail services in it.

SPF record consists of four parts:

• v=spf1 tells recipient server that this is an SPF record;
• +a +mx +ip4 enable transmission from domain A record, MX record, and ipv4 address. This is part of record where you can add IP addresses and add SPF rules for other domain systems. Common third-party email marketing tools require updating SPF record to accommodate their servers;
• all defines how servers should treat servers that are not in list.