What Is TXT Record?
A TXT record is a DNS record that stores text data for a domain. It's used for domain verification (proving ownership to services like Google), email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), and other text-based DNS information.
Why It Matters
TXT records are the Swiss Army knife of DNS. They store arbitrary text data that various services read for different purposes. The most common uses:
- Domain verification — prove you own a domain to Google, Microsoft, etc.
- SPF records — specify which servers can send email for your domain
- DKIM records — add email authentication signatures
- DMARC records — set email authentication policies
When setting up domain forwarding, your TXT records are completely untouched.
How It Works
A TXT record is a simple key-value entry in your DNS zone file:
example.com TXT "v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all"
example.com TXT "google-site-verification=abc123xyz789"Any service can query your domain’s TXT records to read this data. Google reads the verification token, email servers check SPF records, etc.
Common TXT Record Types
| Purpose | Example Value | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| SPF (email) | v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all | Lists authorized email senders |
| DKIM (email) | v=DKIM1; k=rsa; p=MIIBIj... | Email signing key |
| DMARC (email) | v=DMARC1; p=reject; rua=mailto:... | Email authentication policy |
| Google verification | google-site-verification=abc123 | Proves domain ownership |
| Facebook verification | facebook-domain-verification=abc123 | Proves domain ownership |
Why TXT Records Are Separate from Forwarding
When you set up Domain Forward, you change A records and CNAME records to point web traffic to our servers. TXT records are read independently — email servers check TXT for SPF, Google checks TXT for verification. None of these are affected by changing where web traffic goes.
This means your email keeps working, domain verifications stay valid, and you can still add new TXT records while using Domain Forward.
Related Terms
Related Features
Frequently
asked questions
No. Domain Forward only requires changes to A records and CNAME records. Your TXT records (SPF, DKIM, domain verification) stay exactly as they are.
A Google site verification TXT record looks like: google-site-verification=abc123xyz. An SPF record for email looks like: v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all.
Yes. Unlike A records where you typically have one, you can have many TXT records on a single domain — one for SPF, one for DKIM, one for verification, etc.
Still Confused? Try It Free.
Set up your first domain forward in under 5 minutes. Free plan includes 5 domains.