redirect — SPF Modifier

The SPF redirect modifier replaces your SPF record with another domain's record entirely. Learn how it differs from include and when to use it.

Type
Modifier
Syntax
redirect=<domain>
DNS Lookup
Yes — counts toward 10-lookup limit
Example
redirect=_spf.example.com

💬 What This Modifier Does

The redirect modifier completely replaces the current SPF evaluation with the SPF record of another domain. Unlike "include", it is not a mechanism — it's evaluated last and only if no earlier mechanism matched. It's useful for shared hosting environments or organisations that maintain one canonical SPF record referenced by many domains.

When to Use This

  • A parent domain that maintains the authoritative SPF for all company subdomains
  • Hosted email where the provider maintains the SPF and you reference it

⚠️ Watch Out For

  • Cannot be combined with "all" — if "all" appears in the record, redirect is ignored.
  • Counts as one DNS lookup.
  • Unlike include, if the target domain has no SPF record the result is "permerror".
  • The entire SPF check transfers to the target domain, including its final "all" qualifier.

📚 RFC References

↗RFC 7208 §6.1 — The "redirect" Modifier

🔗 Related SPF Elements

include
Mechanism

🔧 Validate Your SPF Record

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