The TXT record provides text information to sources outside your domain. The text can be either human or machine-readable and can be used for a variety of purposes. Typically, it contains general information about the domain name and also valuable details for verification purposes and email validation.
The TXT record has the following look in your ClouDNS Control Panel:
| Host: | Type: | Points to: | TTL |
| hostname.com | TXT | whateveryouwanttopoint | 1 Hour |
Many providers such as Google, Office 365, etc, often require a special verification code via TXT record to be added in your DNS zone. That way you prove them you are the actual owner of that particular domain name.
Another common use of the TXT record is for SPF, DKIM, and for DMARC domain keys as well.
TXT is an abbreviation for text. You may not be surprised to realize the way that TXT records work is as simple as you can imagine. It allows the domain administrator to enter a text into the DNS zone. "Why the administrator would need to enter a text" you may ask. Because TXT records are common used for verifying domain name ownership and to ensure email security.
Log in your ClouDNS account, enter your DNS zone management page, and click on the Add new record button. For Type choose TXT and type as follow:
Type: TXT
TTL: 1 Hour
Host:
Points to: whereveryouwanttopoint
TXT is widely used for adding SPF records. This is essential for authorizing the email server allowed to send emails on behalf of your domain. And with the deprecation of the regular SPF records, the usage of TXT records has been increased significantly as all SPF records must be added as TXT SPF records nowadays.
You can find more information about SPF records and how do they prevent Email SPAM here.
As we already mentioned, SPF records are deprecated and it is recommended to be recreated as TXT SPF records. From this point of view, we can say that those SPF records also TXT records by their nature. But they are used explicitly for email purposes.
On other hand, TXT records have a much wider range of usage. TXT records can be also used for publishing DKIM and DMARC records, for proving domain name ownership, and not only.
CNAME is a standard DNS record that redirects your domain's subdomain to another domain or hostname. This is its main and the only goal.
The TXT record works in a different manner. The TXT record holds human and/or machine-readable text. It cannot redirect your domain to anywhere. It is mostly used for verification purposes and for storing SPF data.
You can check your TXT records with the following dig command:
$ dig txt your-domain.com
You can check the TXT record with nslookup as well. A sample is shown below:
$ nslookup -type=txt your-domain.com
Absolutely, yes. You can add as many TXT records as you need for your domain. This will not cause any problem.
ClouDNS provides full support for TXT records for all our DNS services, including the listed below. Just write to our technical support, if you need any assistance with your TXT records configuration. Our Technical Support team is online for you 24/7 via live chat and tickets.