What are TXT records?

TXT records store text strings in DNS. Originally designed for human-readable information, they evolved to carry machine-readable data.

Structure: A name (hostname) paired with text content.

tidalmail.com TXT "v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all"

Common uses:

Email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC)

Domain verification (prove you control a domain)

Service configuration data

Technical notes:

Multiple TXT records can exist for the same name.

Content is limited to 255 characters per string (can be concatenated).

Quotes in DNS interfaces vary by provider.

The general-purpose notepad in the ship registry. Used for any textual documentation the port requires.