TXT records are the Swiss Army knife of DNS – they verify domain ownership, secure email delivery, and store critical metadata that keeps your digital infrastructure running smoothly.
What is a TXT record
A TXT record is a text-based DNS record that stores arbitrary string data within your domain's DNS configuration. Originally designed in the early days of DNS for human-readable notes and comments, TXT records have evolved into essential components for, most commonly domain, verification and security protocols.
Unlike other DNS records with specific functions – A records point to IP addresses, MX records handle email routing – TXT records are just versatile data containers. They can hold multiple strings, each up to 255 characters, making them useful for storing various types of information.
This is what an actual TXT record looks like:
This SPF record tells email servers which hosts can send email on behalf of your domain. The beauty of TXT records lies in their flexibility – they don't dictate how the data should be used, leaving interpretation to the applications that read them.
How TXT records work
When a DNS query requests TXT records for your domain, the DNS resolver retrieves all text strings associated with that domain name. Unlike CNAME records that must stand alone, multiple TXT records can coexist on the same domain without conflict.
For values exceeding 255 characters, DNS automatically handles string concatenation by splitting the content into multiple strings within the same record. Importantly, TXT records have no direct impact on website routing or email delivery – they simply store data that other systems read and interpret.
A DNS lookup with the dig TXT command would return you those record(s):
Each record serves a different purpose, parsed by different systems checking your domain's configuration.
Common TXT record use cases
TXT records power several critical functions in modern web infrastructure. SPF records for email authentication prevent spammers from impersonating your domain. DKIM public keys enable email signing, adding cryptographic signatures to outgoing messages. Domain ownership verification for services like Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, and other platforms ensures you control the domain you're configuring.
DMARC policies take email security further by telling receiving servers how to handle messages that fail authentication checks. Site verification for third-party services rounds out the common uses.
A standard business TXT record setup typically includes:
- SPF record:
"v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com include:mailgun.org ~all" - Google verification:
"google-site-verification=abc123def456" - DMARC policy:
"v=DMARC1; p=quarantine; rua=mailto:reports@example.com"
Pro tip: Regular TXT record audits prevent outdated verifications from cluttering your DNS, improving query performance and reducing confusion.
Streamline your DNS management
Managing TXT records across multiple domains and providers quickly becomes overwhelming. Each registrar has different interfaces, validation requirements, and update procedures.
When you're juggling SPF records, domain verifications, and DMARC policies across dozens of domains, a unified management platform makes the difference between smooth operations and configuration chaos.
Need help organizing your TXT records or DNS infrastructure? Contact our team – we aim to simplify DNS management processes to save your time.