SPF (Sender Policy Framework) records are DNS TXT records that specify which mail servers are authorized to send emails on behalf of your domain. They help prevent email spoofing and improve email deliverability.

Key Components:

• Version: Always starts with "v=spf1"
• Mechanisms: Define which servers can send emails (include, a, mx, ip4, ip6)
• Qualifiers: Specify the action to take (+pass, -fail, ~softfail, ?neutral)
• All mechanism: Defines the default policy for unlisted servers

How SPF Works:

1. Receiving mail server gets an email claiming to be from your domain
2. It looks up your domain's SPF record in DNS
3. It checks if the sending server's IP is authorized in the SPF record
4. Based on the result, it accepts, rejects, or flags the email as suspicious