Email · Website glossary

DKIM

Quick answer · What is DKIM?

DomainKeys Identified Mail attaches a domain-associated cryptographic signature that receiving systems can verify using DNS.

IN PRACTICE

DKIM: an example

A sending service signs a message, and the recipient retrieves the domain's public key to check it.

KEEP IN MIND

A valid DKIM signature does not prove that the message content is truthful or harmless.

Put the idea to work

Frequently asked questions

What is a practical example of DKIM?

A sending service signs a message, and the recipient retrieves the domain's public key to check it.

Does a valid DKIM signature prove that a message is harmless?

A valid DKIM signature does not prove that the message content is truthful or harmless.

Which concepts should I read alongside DKIM?

DMARC: An email authentication policy and reporting mechanism that relates SPF or DKIM authentication to the visible From domain through alignment.
Email spoofing: The use of falsified sender information to make an email appear to originate from someone else.