IsValid

Checks if an email address is valid.

To connect to this service you'll need to use one of these endpoints:

JSON

Open API

SOAP

Description

Checks an email address for validity at the requested level. Choose from a quick syntax-level check, a more detailed MX-level check, right up to a full mailbox test.

Remember that more detailed checks can take longer to complete, so pick the validation level that is most appropriate for your use-case.

Parameters

The following parameters can be supplied to this method

username	username See the available authentication methods. If you are using username & password authentication, specify the username to authenticate as. If you are using API Key authentication and you are not using the JSON, Javascript or ADO APIs, use your API Key here with the prefix `apikey-`, e.g. `apikey-ABCD-1234-EFGH-5678`
password	password If you are using username & password authentication, specify the password to use for authentication. Otherwise leave this blank.
email	email The email address to validate
level	level The level to validate the `email` to. The following values are currently supported: `Syntax` - the supplied email is checked to ensure that it meets the standard email address format. This is the quickest option and would reject such incorrect email addresses as "noone@nowhere" and "N/A", but would accept incorrect email addresses that are correctly formed but that do not include a valid domain name such as "noone@data-9.com" `MX` - the supplied email is checked to ensure that the domain name (the part to the right of the @ sign) exists and is set up to receive email. This is still normally very quick, but can take a few seconds in some cases. This check would reject incorrectly formatted email addresses in the same way as the Syntax check, and would also reject a misspelled domain name such as "noone@data-9.com". It can also detect when a domain name exists but does not handle email, such as "noone@example.com". It does not verify that the part of the email address to the left of the @ sign exists. `Server` - in addition to the `MX` level checks, validates that at least one of the mail servers advertised for the domain is actually live. `Address` - in addition to the `Server` level checks, validates that the mail server accepts mail for the full email address.
options	options An array of options that control further details of how this method operates. See the Advanced Options section below for more information.

Advanced Options

The following options can be specified as part of the option parameter. Each option is specified as a key/value pair. The list of available names is shown below, along with a description of the allowable values for that name.

Common Options
Name	Description
ApplicationName	ApplicationName Gives the name of the calling application - used to break down usage by application in the usage reports on the dashboard
Service-Specific Options
Name	Description
MissingMXRecordHandling	MissingMXRecordHandling If the `level` parameter is set to `MX`, the domain does not have any advertised mail servers, and it does have some possible IP addresses, this option determines how validation should proceed. The default `ServerCheck` automatically upgrades the validation level to `Server` to get a more accurate validation result, but causes the request to take longer. Alternatively the values `AssumeValid` or `AssumeInvalid` can be specified to automatically return a `Valid` or `Invalid` result respectively in these cases, resulting in a much faster result.

Results

This method returns an object containing the following fields:

Status

Status	Status Indicates whether the method call was successful, or if some error occurred. If the `Success` field is `true`, the other results described below can be used to get the results of the method. If `Success` is `false`, some error occurred in calling the method, such as the authentication failed or the account is out of credits. The details of the error can be obtained from the `ErrorMessage` field, and any other results should be ignored
Result	Result A status code indicating if the email address could be validated. The following values are available: `Valid` - according to the selected level of validation, the email address appears to be valid. This is not an absolute guarantee that emails sent to this address will be delivered and read. `Invalid` - the email address is invalid. This is a definite assessment that emails sent to this address cannot be delivered. `Inconclusive` - a precise `Valid` or `Invalid` result could not be determined. This is normally because the server being used for the address being checked did not respond in time, or did not provide sufficient information. `CatchAll` - when performing `Address` level validation, the mail server was determined as accepting mail for any address provided to it. The address being checked will be accepted, but may be returned later. `GreyListed` - when performing `Address` level validation, the mail server declined to indicate whether the address was valid or not due to a greylisting rule. Trying to validate the address again in a few minutes may elicit a more accurate response.

Status

Indicates whether the method call was successful, or if some error occurred. If the Success field is true, the other results described below can be used to get the results of the method. If Success is false, some error occurred in calling the method, such as the authentication failed or the account is out of credits. The details of the error can be obtained from the ErrorMessage field, and any other results should be ignored

Result

Result

A status code indicating if the email address could be validated. The following values are available:

Valid - according to the selected level of validation, the email address appears to be valid. This is not an absolute guarantee that emails sent to this address will be delivered and read.
Invalid - the email address is invalid. This is a definite assessment that emails sent to this address cannot be delivered.
Inconclusive - a precise Valid or Invalid result could not be determined. This is normally because the server being used for the address being checked did not respond in time, or did not provide sufficient information.
CatchAll - when performing Address level validation, the mail server was determined as accepting mail for any address provided to it. The address being checked will be accepted, but may be returned later.
GreyListed - when performing Address level validation, the mail server declined to indicate whether the address was valid or not due to a greylisting rule. Trying to validate the address again in a few minutes may elicit a more accurate response.

Live Demo

email

level

options

Name	Value
Common Options
ApplicationName
Service-Specific Options
MissingMXRecordHandling

Sample Code

<!-- Import the Integr8 Ajax API -->
<!-- NOTE: Get your own API key to use in the following script tag from: -->
<!-- https://www.data-8.co.uk/ValidationAdmin/AjaxAPIKey -->
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://webservices.data-8.co.uk/Javascript/Loader.ashx?key=your-api-key&load=EmailValidation">
</script>

<script type="text/javascript">

function IsValid(email, level) {
  /// <param name="email">string</param>
  /// <param name="level">string. One of the following values: Syntax, MX, Server, Address</param>
  var emailvalidation = new data8.emailvalidation();
  
  emailvalidation.isvalid(
    email,
    level,
    [
      new data8.option('MissingMXRecordHandling', 'ServerCheck')
    ],
    showIsValidResult
  );
}

function showIsValidResult(result) {
  // Check that the call succeeded, and show the error message if there was a problem.
  if (!result.Status.Success) {
    alert('Error: ' + result.Status.ErrorMessage);
  }
  else {
    // TODO: Process method results here.
    // Results can be extracted from the following fields:
    // result.Result
    //   A status code indicating if the email address could be validated. The following values are available:
    //   
    //   * `Valid` - according to the selected level of validation, the email address appears to be valid. This is not an absolute guarantee that emails sent to this address will be delivered and read.
    //   * `Invalid` - the email address is invalid. This is a definite assessment that emails sent to this address cannot be delivered.
    //   * `Inconclusive` - a precise `Valid` or `Invalid` result could not be determined. This is normally because the server being used for the address being checked did not respond in time, or did not provide sufficient information.
    //   * `CatchAll` - when performing `Address` level validation, the mail server was determined as accepting mail for any address provided to it. The address being checked will be accepted, but may be returned later.
    //   * `GreyListed` - when performing `Address` level validation, the mail server declined to indicate whether the address was valid or not due to a greylisting rule. Trying to validate the address again in a few minutes may elicit a more accurate response.
  }
}

</script>

// NOTE: A Service Reference to the web service must be added to use this sample code.
private void IsValid(string email, EmailValidationLevel level)
{
    // Declare the required options.
    Option MissingMXRecordHandling = new Option();
    MissingMXRecordHandling.Name = "MissingMXRecordHandling";
    MissingMXRecordHandling.Value = "ServerCheck";
    // Invoke the web service method.
    EmailValidationSoapClient proxy = new EmailValidationSoapClient();
    EmailValidationOutput results = proxy.IsValid("your-username", "your-password", email, level, new Option[] {
                MissingMXRecordHandling});
    // Check that the call succeeded, and show the error message if there was a problem.
    if ((results.Status.Success == false))
    {
        MessageBox.Show(("Error: " + results.Status.ErrorMessage));
    }
    else
    {
        // TODO: Process method results here.
        // Results can be extracted from the following fields:
        // result.Result
        //   A status code indicating if the email address could be validated. The following values are available:
        //   
        //   * `Valid` - according to the selected level of validation, the email address appears to be valid. This is not an absolute guarantee that emails sent to this address will be delivered and read.
        //   * `Invalid` - the email address is invalid. This is a definite assessment that emails sent to this address cannot be delivered.
        //   * `Inconclusive` - a precise `Valid` or `Invalid` result could not be determined. This is normally because the server being used for the address being checked did not respond in time, or did not provide sufficient information.
        //   * `CatchAll` - when performing `Address` level validation, the mail server was determined as accepting mail for any address provided to it. The address being checked will be accepted, but may be returned later.
        //   * `GreyListed` - when performing `Address` level validation, the mail server declined to indicate whether the address was valid or not due to a greylisting rule. Trying to validate the address again in a few minutes may elicit a more accurate response.
    }
}

'NOTE: A Service Reference to the web service must be added to use this sample code.
Private Sub IsValid(ByVal email As String, ByVal level As EmailValidationLevel)
'Declare the required options.
Dim MissingMXRecordHandling As [Option] = New [Option]()
MissingMXRecordHandling.Name = "MissingMXRecordHandling"
MissingMXRecordHandling.Value = "ServerCheck"
'Invoke the web service method.
Dim proxy As EmailValidationSoapClient = New EmailValidationSoapClient()
Dim results As EmailValidationOutput = proxy.IsValid("your-username", "your-password", email, level, New [Option]() {MissingMXRecordHandling})
'Check that the call succeeded, and show the error message if there was a problem.
If (results.Status.Success = false) Then
MessageBox.Show(("Error: " + results.Status.ErrorMessage))
Else
'TODO: Process method results here.
'Results can be extracted from the following fields:
'result.Result
' A status code indicating if the email address could be validated. The following values are available:
'
' * `Valid` - according to the selected level of validation, the email address appears to be valid. This is not an absolute guarantee that emails sent to this address will be delivered and read.
' * `Invalid` - the email address is invalid. This is a definite assessment that emails sent to this address cannot be delivered.
' * `Inconclusive` - a precise `Valid` or `Invalid` result could not be determined. This is normally because the server being used for the address being checked did not respond in time, or did not provide sufficient information.
' * `CatchAll` - when performing `Address` level validation, the mail server was determined as accepting mail for any address provided to it. The address being checked will be accepted, but may be returned later.
' * `GreyListed` - when performing `Address` level validation, the mail server declined to indicate whether the address was valid or not due to a greylisting rule. Trying to validate the address again in a few minutes may elicit a more accurate response.
End If
End Sub

// NOTE: The php_soap.dll extension must be enabled in the php.ini file.
function IsValid($email, $level)
{
  $options = array(
    "Option" => array(
      array(
        "Name" => "MissingMXRecordHandling",
        "Value" => "ServerCheck"
      )
    )
  );
  $params = array(
    "username" => "your-username",
    "password" => "your-password",
    "email" => $email,
    "level" => $level,
    "options" => $options
  );
  $client = new SoapClient("https://webservices.data-8.co.uk/EmailValidation.asmx?WSDL");
  $result = $client->IsValid($params);
  if ($result->IsValidResult->Status->Success == 0)
  {
    echo "Error: " . $result->IsValidResult->Status->ErrorMessage;
  }
  else
  {
    // TODO: Process method results here.
    // Results can be extracted from the following fields:
    // $result->IsValidResult->Result
    //   A status code indicating if the email address could be validated. The following values are available:
    //   
    //   * `Valid` - according to the selected level of validation, the email address appears to be valid. This is not an absolute guarantee that emails sent to this address will be delivered and read.
    //   * `Invalid` - the email address is invalid. This is a definite assessment that emails sent to this address cannot be delivered.
    //   * `Inconclusive` - a precise `Valid` or `Invalid` result could not be determined. This is normally because the server being used for the address being checked did not respond in time, or did not provide sufficient information.
    //   * `CatchAll` - when performing `Address` level validation, the mail server was determined as accepting mail for any address provided to it. The address being checked will be accepted, but may be returned later.
    //   * `GreyListed` - when performing `Address` level validation, the mail server declined to indicate whether the address was valid or not due to a greylisting rule. Trying to validate the address again in a few minutes may elicit a more accurate response.
  }
}

Request Format

{
  "email": "info@data-8.co.uk",
  "level": "MX",
  "options": {
    "MissingMXRecordHandling": "ServerCheck"
  }
}

Results Format

{
  "Status": {
    "Success": true,
    "CreditsRemaining": 1000
  },
  "Result": "Valid"
}

Depending on your chosen authentication method you will need to modify this request slightly:

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