+ (Pass): SPF Qualifier
The SPF + qualifier (Pass) is the default result when a mechanism matches. The sending IP is authorised to send email for the domain.
Type
Qualifier
Qualifier
Syntax
DNS Lookup
No (no extra lookup)
No (no extra lookup)
💬 What This Qualifier Does
The "+" qualifier is the default. You almost never need to write it explicitly. When a mechanism with "+" (or no qualifier, which defaults to "+") matches, the result is Pass: the sender is authorised. "+all" means every sender passes, effectively disabling SPF enforcement.
When to Use This
- Implicit in every mechanism that has no qualifier prefix
- "a" and "mx" with no qualifier default to "+a" and "+mx"
⚠️ Watch Out For
- "+all" is dangerous. It passes every sender, making SPF pointless.
📚 RFC References
🔗 Related SPF Elements
🔧 Validate Your SPF Record
Check whether your current SPF record is valid and covers all your senders.