What is SPF flattening and how does it help?
Before flattening:
- v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com include:sendgrid.net ~all
- (Multiple lookups from each include)
After flattening:
- v=spf1 ip4:209.85.128.0/17 ip4:74.125.0.0/16 ... ~all
- (Zero lookups, direct IP matching)
Benefits:
- Reduces or eliminates lookup count
- Avoids permerror from exceeding limits
Trade-offs:
- Must update when source IPs change
- Manual flattening is error-prone
- Record becomes much longer
- Automated flattening services solve the maintenance problem.
Copy the addresses from referenced documents into your own. No cross-referencing needed, but copies must stay current.
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