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How do I add a DNS TXT record if no name is provided for the records? Do I just use the @symbol?

Here’s how to add a DNS TXT record for your domain without specifying a particular name:

Using the @ Symbol

Yes, you can use the @ symbol to represent the root domain (e.g., example.com) when adding a DNS TXT record. This is equivalent to not specifying a particular name for the record.

Key points to consider:

• The @ symbol is a shorthand notation that represents the current domain [1].
• It’s used to denote the root domain or apex domain without any subdomain [3].
• This is particularly useful when you want to add a TXT record for the entire domain rather than a specific subdomain.

Steps to Add a DNS TXT Record

1. Log in to your domain registrar or DNS management panel.
2. Navigate to the DNS settings or record management section.
3. Click on “Add New Record” or “Create Record”.
4. Select “TXT” as the record type.
5. For the Host field:

• Leave it blank if you want to apply the record to the root domain.
• Or enter “@” symbol to specifically target the root domain.

1. Enter the Value field with your desired TXT record content.
2. Set the TTL (Time To Live) as needed.
3. Save the record.

Best Practices

• Be cautious when adding TXT records, especially for security-related purposes like SPF or DKIM [1].
• Google recommends adding no more than 49 TXT records per domain due to limitations [1].
• Double-check your entries before saving to avoid typos or incorrect values.

Additional Information

While there isn’t a standardized term for “@-type” records, they are often referred to as “apex records” or “root domain records” in discussions [3]. However, it’s important to note that the @ symbol itself is simply a shorthand notation defined in RFC 1035, not a named record type [3].

Remember, when you use the @ symbol, you’re applying the TXT record to the root domain. If you need to apply it to a specific subdomain, you would typically enter that subdomain instead (e.g., www.example.com).

Citations:
[1] https://support.google.com/a/answer/2716800?hl=en
[2] https://community.klaviyo.com/analytics-and-deliverability-72/dedicated-domain-setup-cannot-enter-at-symbol-as-the-host-for-site-validation-1827
[3] https://serverfault.com/questions/426326/what-is-the-name-for-a-dns-record-starting-with
[4] https://help.turbify.com/s/article/how-do-i-manage-txt-records-for-my-domain
[5] https://community.cloudflare.com/t/how-can-i-add-a-dns-txt-record-so-i-can-verify-my-domain-on-facebook/355122
[6] https://support.cpanel.net/hc/en-us/community/posts/19137428389783-Problem-setting-up-TXT-record-in-DNS
[7] https://help.dreamhost.com/hc/en-us/articles/360035516812-Adding-custom-DNS-records
[8] https://webmasters.stackexchange.com/questions/55503/domain-registrar-saying-they-cannot-add-txt-record
[9] https://superuser.com/questions/657789/format-of-txt-data-in-dns-record
[10] https://www.reddit.com/r/sysadmin/comments/lksvka/does_the_name_of_an_spf_txt_record_matter_can_it/