+ (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.