TXT Records and What They Are For
A TXT record simply stores a piece of text in your DNS. On its own that sounds unremarkable, but TXT records have become one of the most useful tools for proving ownership and protecting your email.
Because anyone can read them, they are perfect for publishing small, public statements that other services rely on.
Common Uses
You will encounter TXT records in several everyday situations, often without realising it.
- Domain verification: proving to a service that you control the domain.
- SPF: listing which servers may send email on your behalf.
- DKIM: publishing the key used to sign your outgoing email.
- DMARC: setting policy for messages that fail authentication checks.
Reading a TXT Record
TXT records often look like jumbled text to a human, but each follows a defined format for the service that reads it. A single character out of place can stop the record working, which is why we copy values exactly rather than retyping them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have more than one TXT record?
Yes, you can have many. Just be careful only to have one SPF and one DMARC record, as multiple of those cause errors.
Will adding a TXT record affect my website?
No — TXT records do not change where your site or email is delivered; they only publish information.
If you need a hand with any of this, your Progressive Robot delivery team is ready to help. Raise a ticket from the Support area of your client portal or speak to your account manager and we will guide you through the next steps.