A TXT (Text) record is a fundamental component of the Domain Name System (DNS), serving as a versatile resource for storing textual information associated with a domain. TXT records consist of human-readable text, providing a flexible means to convey essential details about a domain. One of the prominent applications of TXT records is in email authentication, where they play a pivotal role in implementing the Sender Policy Framework (SPF), DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM), and Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC) protocols. In SPF, a TXT record contains information about authorized mail servers for a domain, helping prevent email spoofing. For DKIM, a TXT record stores the public key used for verifying digital signatures in email headers, enhancing email security. Additionally, DMARC policies, specifying how email receivers should handle messages from the domain, are often communicated through TXT records. TXT records are also utilized in various other scenarios, such as verifying ownership during the setup of online services, configuring security policies, and providing general information about a domain. Their flexibility and widespread usage make TXT records a crucial element in the DNS ecosystem, supporting a range of functionalities beyond email authentication.
A TXT-Records-Lookup tool is an online utility designed to query and retrieve the TXT records associated with a specific domain. TXT records, as part of the Domain Name System (DNS), store textual information about a domain and are commonly used for various purposes, including email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), domain ownership verification, and configuration of security policies. The TXT-Records-Lookup tool simplifies the process of inspecting and extracting these textual records for a given domain, providing users with insights into the information stored within the TXT records.
This tool typically operates by sending a DNS query to the authoritative DNS server of the specified domain, requesting information about its TXT records. The results are then presented in a readable format, allowing users to interpret the text-based data associated with the domain. TXT-Records-Lookup tools are valuable for administrators, security professionals, and individuals managing online services, as they facilitate the verification of DNS configurations, domain ownership, and the implementation of various security measures. By offering a user-friendly interface and quick access to TXT records, these tools contribute to the efficient management and maintenance of domain-related information in the digital ecosystem.
Email Authentication (SPF): Verify and check Sender Policy Framework (SPF) TXT records to ensure authorized email servers for a domain, preventing email spoofing.
DKIM Configuration: Retrieve and inspect DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) TXT records, which store public keys used to verify digital signatures in email headers, enhancing email security.
DMARC Policies: Check and analyze Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC) policies conveyed through TXT records, specifying how email receivers should handle messages from the domain.
Domain Ownership Verification: Use TXT records to confirm domain ownership during the setup of online services, proving control over the domain for various purposes.
Security Configuration: Retrieve security-related information stored in TXT records, such as security policies, cryptographic keys, or configuration settings that enhance the overall security posture of a domain.
Service Verification: Inspect TXT records to verify the presence of required records for specific services, ensuring the correct setup and functioning of online services associated with the domain.
DNS Configuration Audit: Conduct audits of DNS configurations by examining TXT records, identifying any discrepancies or issues that may impact domain functionality or security.
Anti-Phishing Measures: Check for TXT records containing anti-phishing information, such as policies that protect against malicious attempts to impersonate a domain.
Website Ownership Verification: Confirm ownership of a website by inspecting TXT records, which may contain verification tokens or codes required for website ownership validation.
Informational Notes: Utilize TXT records to store informational notes, instructions, or details about a domain, making it a useful tool for documentation and communication.
Deployment of Online Services: Ensure the correct deployment of various online services by verifying TXT records associated with those services, facilitating smooth and secure operations.
Cloud Service Integration: Integrate domain-related TXT records with cloud services, verifying ownership and enabling additional features or services associated with cloud platforms.
Custom Domain Setup: Check TXT records when setting up custom domains for platforms like email services, online collaboration tools, or other cloud-based applications, ensuring proper configuration.
DNS Troubleshooting: Diagnose and troubleshoot DNS-related issues by inspecting TXT records, identifying any misconfigurations or discrepancies affecting domain functionality.
Blockchain and Cryptocurrency: In the context of blockchain and cryptocurrency, use TXT records for domain verification in decentralized applications (DApps) or to store public keys for secure transactions.
Type | Description | Function |
---|---|---|
A | IPv4 Address record | Returns a 32-bit IPv4 address, most commonly used to map hostnames to an IP address of the host, but it is also used for DNSBLs, storing subnet masks in RFC 1101, etc. |
AAAA | IPv6 address record | Returns a 128-bit IPv6 address, most commonly used to map hostnames to an IP address of the host. |
AFSDB | AFS database record | Location of database servers of an AFS cell. This record is commonly used by AFS clients to contact AFS cells outside their local domain. A subtype of this record is used by the obsolete DCE/DFS file system. |
APL | APL | |
CAA | Certification Authority Authorization | DNS Certification Authority Authorization, constraining acceptable CAs for a host/domain |
CERT | Certificate record | Stores PKIX, SPKI, PGP, etc. |
CNAME | Canonical name record | Alias of one name to another: the DNS lookup will continue by retrying the lookup with the new name. |
DHCID | DHCP identifier | Used in conjunction with the FQDN option to DHCP |
DNAME | Delegation name record | Alias for a name and all its subnames, unlike CNAME, which is an alias for only the exact name. Like a CNAME record, the DNS lookup will continue by retrying the lookup with the new name. |
DNSKEY | DNS Key record | The key record used in DNSSEC. Uses the same format as the KEY record. |
DS | Delegation signer | The record used to identify the DNSSEC signing key of a delegated zone |
IPSECKEY | IPsec Key | Key record that can be used with IPsec |
LOC | Location record | Specifies a geographical location associated with a domain name |
MX | Mail exchange record | Maps a domain name to a list of message transfer agents for that domain |
NAPTR | Naming Authority Pointer | Allows regular-expression-based rewriting of domain names which can then be used as URIs, further domain names to lookups, etc. |
NS | Name server record | Delegates a DNS zone to use the given authoritative name servers |
NSEC | Next Secure record | Part of DNSSEC—used to prove a name does not exist. Uses the same format as the (obsolete) NXT record. |
NSEC3 | Next Secure record version 3 | An extension to DNSSEC that allows proof of nonexistence for a name without permitting zonewalking |
NSEC3PARAM | NSEC3 parameters | Parameter record for use with NSEC3 |
PTR | PTR Resource Record | Pointer to a canonical name. Unlike a CNAME, DNS processing stops and just the name is returned. The most common use is for implementing reverse DNS lookups, but other uses include such things as DNS-SD. |
RP | Responsible Person | Information about the responsible person(s) for the domain. Usually an email address with the @ replaced by a . |
RRSIG | DNSSEC signature | Signature for a DNSSEC-secured record set. Uses the same format as the SIG record. |
SOA | Start of [a zone of] authority record | Specifies authoritative information about a DNS zone, including the primary name server, the email of the domain administrator, the domain serial number, and several timers relating to refreshing the zone. |
SRV | Service locator | Generalized service location record, used for newer protocols instead of creating protocol-specific records such as MX. |
SSHFP | SSH Public Key Fingerprint | Resource record for publishing SSH public host key fingerprints in the DNS System, in order to aid in verifying the authenticity of the host. RFC 6594 defines ECC SSH keys and SHA-256 hashes. See the IANA SSHFP RR parameters registry for details. |
TLSA | TLSA certificate association | A record for DANE. RFC 6698 defines "The TLSA DNS resource record is used to associate a TLS server certificate or public key with the domain name where the record is found, thus forming a 'TLSA certificate association'". |
TSIG | Transaction Signature | Can be used to authenticate dynamic updates as coming from an approved client, or to authenticate responses as coming from an approved recursive name server[13] similar to DNSSEC. |
TXT | Text record | Originally for arbitrary human-readable text in a DNS record. Since the early 1990s, however, this record more often carries machine-readable data, such as specified by RFC 1464, opportunistic encryption, Sender Policy Framework, DKIM, DMARC, DNS-SD, etc. |
URI | Uniform Resource Identifier | Can be used for publishing mappings from hostnames to URIs. |