SPF Record
A DNS record that specifies which mail servers are authorized to send email on behalf of your domain.
Why It Matters
Without SPF, spammers can spoof your domain and ISPs may flag your legitimate emails as suspicious.
How It Works
You publish a TXT record in your DNS listing authorized sending IPs. When a receiving server gets an email from your domain, it checks the SPF record to verify the sending server is authorized.
Real-World Example
A company adds Klaviyo's IP addresses to their SPF record so campaign emails pass authentication checks.
Common Mistakes
Exceeding the 10 DNS lookup limit in SPF
Forgetting to add new ESP IPs when switching providers
Related Terms
An email authentication method that adds a cryptographic signature to verify messages haven't been altered in transit.
An email policy that tells receiving servers what to do when SPF or DKIM authentication fails.
A score assigned to your sending domain and IP by email providers that determines inbox placement.
SPF Record FAQs
Is SPF alone enough for email authentication?
No, SPF should be combined with DKIM and DMARC for full authentication and maximum deliverability.
What happens if SPF fails?
The receiving server may mark the email as spam, quarantine it, or reject it entirely depending on the DMARC policy.
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