What is the Spamhaus EDBL API and how does it work?

Key findings

• Enhanced data: The EDBL API provides a numerical score for domains, with a score exceeding 5 indicating a listing on the Spamhaus DBL (Domain Blocklist). A lower score signifies better reputation.
• Comprehensive insights: Beyond the score, the API returns data such as registrar information, domain creation date, first and last seen timestamps, spam trap hit history, and associated IP addresses, offering a holistic view of domain health.
• Reputation correlation: Domains with a history of spam trap hits tend to have higher (worse) scores, while clean domains exhibit much lower (better) scores, sometimes reaching values like -142, suggesting a whitelisted status.
• Underlying criteria: Spamhaus uses over 50 criteria to compute these scores, though the specifics are not publicly detailed by the EDBL API provider.
• Domain-level focus: The API primarily evaluates full domains, with any subdomains expected to inherit the root domain's score and reputation. Understanding the impact of a blocklist listing on your overall sender reputation is crucial, as detailed in our guide on what are email blocklists.

Key considerations

• Integration potential: The EDBL API can be integrated into existing systems for real-time domain checking during client onboarding or for ongoing monitoring and troubleshooting.
• Reputation threshold: A score of 5 or higher indicates a blocklist listing, making this a clear indicator for immediate action. For more information on blocklists, see What is Spamhaus and How Does It Work?
• Spam trap insights: While the API indicates spam trap hits, the exact impact of historical hits on the current score remains an area for further clarification from Spamhaus. Understanding what spam traps are and how they work is critical for maintaining good email deliverability.
• Vendor verification: Ensure that any EDBL API provider is an official vendor of Spamhaus services to guarantee data accuracy and legitimacy.

Key opinions

• High utility: The EDBL API is highly recommended for its ability to provide Spamhaus scores, registrar details, and spam trap hit information, which are invaluable for client onboarding and troubleshooting.
• Real-time checks: The ability to check domain scores and related data via an API (or web queries) in real-time is a significant benefit for identifying potential issues promptly.
• Score interpretation: There's a general understanding that a score below -100 indicates a good reputation, with scores around -142 potentially signifying whitelisted status.
• Spam trap influence: Marketers observe that domains with recorded spam trap hits, even historical ones, tend to have less favorable scores (e.g., -1 or -2), though the precise impact size is a point of speculation.

Key considerations

• Leveraging data: Marketers should consider integrating this API to enhance their domain reputation management and to proactively identify and address potential issues before they impact deliverability.
• Proactive troubleshooting: The API's data, including spam trap hits, provides valuable clues for troubleshooting email blocklist issues and understanding the underlying causes of poor domain health.
• Vendor legitimacy: It is crucial to verify that the EDBL API provider is an authorized Spamhaus vendor to ensure the data's integrity and reliability. You can check Spamhaus' official vendor list for confirmation.
• Contextual understanding: While the API provides a score and data points, understanding the nuances of how Spamhaus interprets these factors, such as the lasting impact of old spam trap hits, requires ongoing observation and possibly direct inquiry, as detailed in an article by Kickbox on Spamhaus blocklists.

Key opinions

• Data legitimacy: Experts stress the importance of verifying that any third-party service providing Spamhaus data is an official vendor to ensure the accuracy and authorized use of the information.
• Spam trap complexity: While spam trap hits contribute to reputation scores, experts suggest that a single spam trap hit by itself doesn't provide enough context to determine a domain's overall health, especially if it was an old hit.
• Score impact: There's speculation that very old spam trap hits (e.g., 5 years ago) should not have a significant impact on a domain's current Spamhaus EDBL score, though this is not definitively confirmed.
• Timeliness of data: Experts doubt that Spamhaus or its vendors would provide precise timestamps for individual spam trap hits, as this information is typically highly guarded.

Key considerations

• Due diligence: Always confirm that the EDBL API provider is listed as an official Spamhaus vendor to avoid using unauthorized or inaccurate data, which could lead to incorrect deliverability decisions.
• Holistic view: While an EDBL score is valuable, it should be considered alongside other metrics when assessing domain reputation, as a single data point like 'spamtrap hit' doesn't provide the full picture. Our guide on an in-depth guide to email blocklists provides further context.
• Interpreting history: Even with historical data provided by the API, the long-term impact of past issues (e.g., old spam trap hits) on current scores requires careful interpretation, as blocklist algorithms evolve.
• Vendor communication: Engage with your API vendor if you have specific questions about data interpretation or the scoring methodology, as they often liaise directly with Spamhaus. More information can be found on Spam Resource, a blog by an industry expert.

Key findings

• Official partnerships: Spamhaus maintains a list of authorized vendors through whom their commercial-grade blocklists and data services, like the EDBL API, can be purchased and accessed.
• DBL purpose: The Spamhaus DBL is designed to list domains that are involved in spamming activities or host other domains that do, playing a critical role in filtering unwanted email.
• Score methodology: While the precise mechanics of the EDBL scoring are proprietary, it is known to be based on more than 50 criteria, indicating a multi-faceted assessment of domain reputation.
• Domain vs. subdomain: Spamhaus typically lists full domains, implying that subdomains inherit the reputation of their root domain, as explored in Does Spamhaus DBL list hostnames or root domains?.

Key considerations

• API access: To access the Spamhaus EDBL API, users should contact one of the officially listed Spamhaus Technologies vendors, ensuring adherence to their terms of service.
• Data scope: The API focuses on domain reputation, providing a score and related metadata that can be integrated into automated systems for filtering or monitoring.
• Proactive use: The EDBL API offers a proactive way to check the reputation of domains, which is critical for maintaining good email deliverability and avoiding listings on a DNSBL (DNS Blocklist).
• Continuous updates: Spamhaus continuously updates its blocklists and underlying data. Users of the EDBL API should ensure their integration can handle real-time data fluctuations and updates.