SPF (Sender Policy Framework)
Definition
A DNS-based mechanism by which a domain owner publishes the list of IP addresses authorised to send mail for that domain. A receiving server checks whether the envelope sender's domain authorises the connecting IP and records the result as pass, fail, softfail, neutral, or none.
Related terms
- DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail)
- A cryptographic signing mechanism: the sending server signs the message headers and body with a private key, and the receiving server verifies...
- DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance)
- A policy layer that requires the domain in the visible From header to align with a domain that passes SPF or DKIM....
- Envelope sender (Return-Path)
- The address used at the SMTP protocol level for bounce notifications, recorded in the Return-Path header. It is distinct from the display...
- Message-ID
- A globally unique identifier assigned to each message by the originating mail server, recorded in the Message-ID header. It is set by...
- Received header
- A header line prepended by each mail server that accepts a message in transit, recording the server's own identity, the IP or...
Explained in
- Email Header Analysis and Sender TracingA DNS-based mechanism by which a domain owner publishes the list of IP addresses authorised to send mail for that domain. A receiving server checks whether the...