A TXT (text) record is a DNS record type that stores arbitrary text data for a domain. Originally intended for human-readable notes, TXT records are now primarily used by protocols and services that need to publish information in DNS without adding new record types.
Common Uses of TXT Records
| Use Case | Record Content Example |
|---|---|
| SPF (email sender policy) | v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com -all |
| DKIM (email signature) | v=DKIM1; k=rsa; p=MIGfMA0G... |
| DMARC policy | v=DMARC1; p=reject; rua=mailto:[email protected] |
| Domain verification (Google) | google-site-verification=abc123... |
| Domain verification (Stripe/other) | stripe-verification=xyz... |
| BIMI (brand logo in email) | v=BIMI1; l=HTTPS://example.com/logo.svg |
TXT Record Format
TXT records are key-value pairs stored as quoted strings. A domain can have multiple TXT records. The DNS resolver returns all of them when queried.
Do I Need a TXT Record?
If you send email from your domain, yes - you need at minimum an SPF TXT record. Without it, many mail servers will reject or spam-classify your email. DKIM and DMARC records further improve deliverability and prevent spoofing.
How to View TXT Records
Use our DNS Lookup tool, select TXT as the record type, and enter your domain.
People Also Ask
- What is the difference between a CNAME and a TXT record?
- A CNAME creates an alias pointing to another domain name. A TXT record stores arbitrary text data for protocols and verification purposes. They serve completely different functions.
- Do I need a TXT record?
- Yes, for email. SPF is essentially required for reliable email delivery. If you also want DKIM and DMARC (strongly recommended), those are TXT records too.
Related: SPF records | DKIM | DMARC | DNS Lookup