====== TXT records ======

A TXT record is a type of resource record that is often used to show providers (google, office365, web hosts, etc.) that you are the owner of a domain name. 


<note tip>
This page assumes you already know how to make edits to your zone file. \\
**If you don't, you might want to see this [[:en:dns:zone:edit|step-by-step tutorial]] first.**
</note>


<note tip>
The value of a TXT record can only contain a maximum of 1024 characters. In the event that you have a long TXT record, you need to separate the value between quotation marks every 255 characters. For example "first_set_of_255_characters""second_set_of_255_characters""..." etc.
</note>


{{ :en:domains:management:zone:edit_mode.png|}}




===== How to add a TXT record (Normal interface) =====

In normal mode (recommended for beginners), your zone file will be shown with each resource record on its own line, like this:

{{ en:domains:management:gandi-dns-zonefile:dnszone-normal-en.jpg?640 |}}

Click the pencil icon to edit the corresponding line, or click "Add" to add a new record.

You will be presented with a form:

{{ en:domains:management:zone:txt_record-normal.jpg |}}

''Type'': Select ''TXT'' from the drop-down menu.

You can generally leave the ''TTL'' as it is.

In the ''Name'' field, indicate the domain or subdomain you want the TXT record to be linked to. Most of the time, you will want it to be associated with the bare domain, which is represented by the ''@'' symbol.

In the ''Value'' field, enter the TXT entry without quotation marks (these may display automatically in other contexts; you don't need to enter them here).

<note important>
The bare domain (i.e. ''%%example.com%%'', without ''www'') is represented by the ''@'' symbol.
</note>

Each field corresponds to one of these example columns:

^  **[[:en:dns:zone|Type]]**  ^  **[[:en:domains:management:zone:ttl|TTL]]**  ^  **Name**  ^  **Value**  ^  **Effect**  |
^  //Record type//  ^  //Lifespan//  ^  //Subdomain//  ^  //Text, information, domain verification code, etc//  ^  |
|  TXT  |  3 hours  |  ''@''  | ''google-apps-verification=2ZzjfideIJFLFje83''  ^ This txt record will be associated with the bare domain (''example.com'')  |
|  TXT  |  3 hours  |  ''www''  | ''Some information can be typed here'' ^ This txt record will be associated with the ''www'' subdomain (''%%www.example.com%%'') |





When you're done, be sure to click Submit. You will see this message:

{{ en:domains:management:zone:record_successfully_added.jpg?300 |}}

Then, you must click "Activate this version":

{{ en:domains:management:zone:message-this_version_is_not_active-activate-copy.jpg?640 |}}

You'll receive a confirmation message that the zone file's version has been changed.

Now, you just have to wait about three hours for your changes to propagate.

\\

{{  en:domains:management:zone:edit_mode_expert.png|}}



===== How to add a TXT record (Expert interface) =====

We are using **expert mode** for the example below. It will look something like this (yours will likely be slightly different):

{{ en:domains:management:googleapps:add-txt-record-expert-.jpg?645 |}}

You will now need to add your TXT line. Here is a model that you can follow.

Use ''@'' to represent the bare domain if you do not have a subdomain to specify:
  @ 10800 IN TXT whatever the text is you need to add

Otherwise, specify a subdomain like this:
  www 10800 IN TXT "insert information here"

(Quotation marks will be added automatically if you leave them out.)

When you are done, click on the "Submit" button on the bottom of the page to continue. 

All that remains now is to wait for the changes to take affect, so please **allow at least 3 hours** for the normal DNS propagation delay.










===== See also =====
  * **[[en:domains:management:en:dns:zone|Other resource record types]]**