TXT Lookup
Read verification tokens and DNS policies
Inspect TXT records for SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and domain verification.
Type a hostname like example.com or _dmarc.example.com to check TXT records.
What is a TXT record?
TXT records store arbitrary text data used for verification, policy, and ownership checks.
Popular TXT uses
SPF, DKIM, DMARC, domain verification, and service configuration all rely on TXT records.
Multiple strings
TXT values can be split into multiple strings that resolvers return as one combined value.
TXT records explained
TXT records store text-based policies and verification tokens for services, email security, and domain ownership.
Common TXT records include SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and site verification values.
Example TXT record
TXT records often publish email policies like SPF and DMARC.
| Host | Value | TTL |
|---|---|---|
| @ | v=spf1 include:_spf.example.com ~all | 3600 |
| _dmarc | v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:[email protected] | 3600 |
SPF usually lives on the root domain.
DMARC policies are published on the _dmarc subdomain.
Error glossary
NXDOMAIN
The domain does not exist in DNS. Check the spelling or registration status.
SERVFAIL
The resolver failed to answer. This can be caused by DNSSEC issues or upstream outages.
Timeout
The DNS server did not respond in time. Try again or check connectivity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do TXT records look long?
TXT records often include cryptographic keys or policy strings, which can be lengthy.
Why is _dmarc used in TXT?
DMARC policies live at the _dmarc subdomain, which uses TXT records for policy publishing.
How long does TXT propagation take?
Propagation follows the record TTL, typically from minutes to hours.