Glossary/Email & Lifecycle/Sender Policy Framework (SPF)
Email & Lifecycle
Sender Policy Framework (SPF)
A DNS record listing which mail servers may send email for a domain, helping receivers detect spoofing.
By Brandon Mina·CEO, BrandPilot AI·Updated November 2026
Short answer
Sender Policy Framework (SPF) is a DNS record listing which mail servers may send email for a domain, helping receivers detect spoofing. Receiving servers check whether a message came from an authorized source. SPF works alongside DKIM and DMARC, and is required by major mailbox providers for reliable delivery of bulk email.