Help & Documentation
Learn how to use HotlistVerify effectively
Email Status Definitions
Understanding what each verification status means
Good (Valid)
Safe to send. The email address exists and is verified to receive mail.
Risky (Catch-all)
The domain accepts all mail (catch-all server). The specific mailbox may or may not exist. Use with caution.
Bad (Invalid)
Hard bounce. The email address does not exist or cannot receive mail. Do not send to these addresses.
Disposable
Temporary/throwaway email address. These inboxes typically expire after a short time.
How It Works
The verification process explained
- 1
Syntax Check
Validates email format using regex patterns.
- 2
DNS MX Lookup
Queries the domain's MX records to find mail servers.
- 3
SMTP Handshake
Connects to the mail server and simulates sending (HELO → MAIL FROM → RCPT TO → QUIT). No actual email is sent.
Important: SMTP Blocking
Running email verification from your home IP address will likely result in blacklisting by major email providers (Gmail, Outlook, etc.). For production use, you should:
- Use a rotating proxy service
- Deploy to a clean VPS with a good IP reputation
- Implement rate limiting (10-20 verifications per second max)