TXT Records

A TXT record stores free text at a name. The common uses are email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) and proving domain ownership to a third-party service.

Fields

Field	Example	Notes
Name	`@` or a label	Verification records often use a label like `_dmarc`.
Type	`TXT`
Content	`"v=spf1 -all"`	The text, wrapped in double quotes.
TTL	`14400`	Seconds.

Create

Console (zone-file view):

@      TXT "v=spf1 mx -all"                 14400
_dmarc TXT "v=DMARC1; p=reject; rua=mailto:dmarc@example.com" 14400

CLI (wrap the content so the quotes reach the record):

zcp dns record-create --domain examplecom --name @ --type TXT --content '"v=spf1 -all"'

API: POST with { "name": "@", "type": "TXT", "content": "\"v=spf1 -all\"", "ttl": 14400 }.

Verify

dig TXT example.com +short
# "v=spf1 -all"

Common Uses

SPF: "v=spf1 mx -all" lists the hosts allowed to send mail for your domain.
DKIM: a long public key at a selector name like selector._domainkey.
DMARC: a policy at _dmarc, for example "v=DMARC1; p=reject".
Domain verification: a value a provider gives you to prove you control the domain.

Notes

Quoting. Enter the value with or without double quotes. The platform stores it quoted and returns it quoted. On the CLI, to send the quotes yourself, wrap the value so the shell passes them through, for example '"v=spf1 -all"'.
One string per record. For a long DKIM key, keep it as a single record. The platform stores it as given.
Several values per name. A name holds several TXT values. Creating another TXT record at the same name adds it to the set. The apex then carries an SPF record and a verification record together. See Several values per name and type.