A TXT record in DNS (Domain Name System) is a type of resource record that contains arbitrary text-based information about a domain.
Think of TXT records as notes attached to your domain name. These notes can be used for various purposes, most notably for verification and security. They don't directly affect how your website functions, but they provide important information to other systems and services.
Here's a breakdown of what TXT records are used for:
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Domain Ownership Verification: Services like Google Search Console often require you to add a specific TXT record to your domain's DNS settings to prove you own the domain. This prevents unauthorized access and manipulation of your website's data on those services.
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Email Authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC): TXT records play a crucial role in email authentication.
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SPF (Sender Policy Framework): Defines which mail servers are authorized to send email on behalf of your domain, helping to prevent email spoofing. The SPF record is stored as a TXT record.
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DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail): Adds a digital signature to outgoing emails, allowing receiving mail servers to verify that the email was indeed sent from your domain and hasn't been tampered with. The public DKIM key is published in a TXT record.
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DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance): Tells receiving mail servers what to do with emails that fail SPF and DKIM checks (e.g., reject, quarantine). A DMARC policy is published as a TXT record.
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Arbitrary Data: While primarily used for verification and email authentication, TXT records can theoretically store any text-based data associated with a domain. However, relying on them for anything beyond their common uses is generally discouraged.
Example of a TXT Record for SPF:
v=spf1 mx include:_spf.google.com ~all
This TXT record allows email to be sent from the mail servers defined in your MX records and from Google's mail servers.
Example of a TXT record for Domain Verification:
google-site-verification=rXO0ZOEE7yuLT7Dy9xOubVZTb35KwczTi8Ef5vIV1ps
This TXT record is commonly used for Google services to verify that you own the specific domain.
In summary, TXT records are a flexible mechanism for storing text-based information in DNS, with a primary focus on domain verification and email authentication. They help ensure the security and integrity of your domain and its associated services.
