Getting Started

Learn SPF fundamentals and create your first record.

New to SPF? Start here. These guides cover what SPF is, how the protocol works under the hood, the syntax behind every mechanism and qualifier, and how to create your first record. By the end you'll understand exactly what goes into an SPF TXT record and why each part matters for email authentication.

What is SPF? Email Authentication Explained

Learn what SPF (Sender Policy Framework) is, why it matters for email deliverability, and how it protects your domain from spoofing and phishing attacks.

How SPF Works: Technical Deep Dive

Understand the technical details of SPF authentication — DNS lookups, envelope sender verification, evaluation order, result codes, and DMARC alignment.

How to Create an SPF Record

Step-by-step guide to creating an SPF record for your domain. Learn SPF syntax, common includes for popular email services, and how to add the record to your DNS.

SPF Mechanisms: include, ip4, mx, a, all Explained

Complete reference for every SPF mechanism and qualifier. Learn what include, ip4, ip6, mx, a, exists, ptr, all, redirect, and exp do in your SPF record.

SPF Record Examples for Common Setups

Copy-paste SPF record examples for Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, SendGrid, Amazon SES, and multi-provider configurations with proper syntax.