# Websites

> A website in MailCamp is a domain you have verified as yours, which whitelists it for embedding MailCamp subscription forms. Verification is done with a TXT record in the domain's DNS.

## What it is

Subscribe forms can be embedded on your own site. To stop anyone else from embedding your forms, MailCamp only accepts embeds from domains that have been added and verified on the account. Adding a website is therefore a prerequisite for the embed snippet to work in production.

This is separate from sender authentication: a website domain proves where forms may be embedded, while SPF and DKIM prove who may send mail. The two can be the same domain but serve different purposes.

## Key concepts

- **Website domain**: the domain that is allowed to embed this account's forms.
- **Verification record**: a TXT record MailCamp generates for the domain, added at the root (`@`) in the DNS editor of your domain host.
- **Verification status**: the domain is only whitelisted once the record has been found.

## Common workflows

### Adding and verifying a website

1. Open **Settings → Websites** and choose **New website**.
2. Enter the domain.
3. Open the verification screen; it shows the exact TXT record to add.
4. In your DNS provider, add a TXT record with host `@` (or the domain itself, depending on the provider) and the value shown, TTL 600 or the default.
5. Wait for DNS to propagate, then run the verification in MailCamp.

## Limits and edge cases

- DNS propagation is usually minutes but can take up to 24 hours; verification simply fails until the record is visible.
- The record is only read for verification — adding it does not affect mail flow or the rest of your DNS.
- Forms also have a hosted URL that works without any embed, and therefore without a verified website.
- Subscription forms stay inactive on your websites until the account's data processing agreement is signed.

## Web routes

Paths use `:id` as the placeholder for a website's identifier.

- `/settings/websites` — website overview.
- `/settings/websites/new` — add a website.
- `/settings/websites/:id/verification` — the verification record and check.
- `/settings/websites/:id/update` — edit a website.

## Related

- [Forms](/llms/forms.txt) — what gets embedded.
- [Domains](/llms/domains.txt) — sender authentication, a different kind of domain setup.