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Bare Audit Field Notes

Make the web
make sense.

Clear, useful guides to the signals behind a better website. Start with the basics, then get practical.

12 field guides·Made for curious builders
The library

Ideas worth keeping.

12 / 12
One website connected to four separate roles: hosting, DNS, network and CDNInfrastructure01
6 min read2026-10-20

How to find who hosts a website

Start with a domain. Follow the public clues. Find the likely host—and know when the answer needs a little more evidence.

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A visitor reaches Cloudflare, then either a separate origin or a Cloudflare application platform.Infrastructure02
4 min read2026-10-20

Cloudflare detected? Find out what it means for hosting.

Cloudflare can manage DNS, proxy traffic, or run the site itself. One Cloudflare clue does not tell you which role applies.

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A request timing diagram separates a redirect, connection and network path from the final response headers.Infrastructure03
4 min read2026-10-20

Slow server response time? Trace the path before changing hosts.

A slow first response can have several causes. Separate redirects, network delivery, caching and application work before picking a fix.

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An illustrated map of an SPF policy and the sending services it namesEmail04
5 min read2026-10-16

SPF records, explained.

A clear guide to SPF syntax, sender authorization, and the checks to make before changing DNS.

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An illustrated map showing SPF and DKIM identities aligning with a visible From domainEmail05
5 min read2026-10-16

DMARC records, explained.

Understand DMARC policy and alignment, then plan changes from real sending evidence and provider guidance.

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A sender looks up a domain’s MX records, tries the lower preference value first, and can fall back if that server is unavailable.Email06
5 min read2026-10-20

MX records, explained.

MX records point senders toward mail servers. Read their priorities, distinguish no MX from Null MX, and change routing without interrupting delivery.

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One SPF policy gathers approved senders in order and stops at its final all term.Email07
5 min read2026-10-20

Multiple SPF records? Fix the policy safely.

Two SPF records at one name do not merge. Inventory authorized senders, combine only verified instructions, and review nested DNS lookups before changing policy.

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An illustrated email connected to its DKIM selector and signing domainEmail08
5 min read2026-10-16

How to find your DKIM selector

The clue is already in your email. Find the selector, pair it with the signing domain, and look up the right DNS record.

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An original conceptual illustration of a blue ribbon flowing through an orange portalPerformance09
3 min read2026-10-14

Why website speed matters.

Every second has a story. Make the next step feel easy for the people visiting your website.

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Three metric cards with good thresholds: LCP 2.5 seconds, INP 200 milliseconds, and CLS 0.1, assessed at the 75th percentileMetrics10
3 min read2026-10-14

Three metrics. A clearer picture.

Loading, responsiveness, and stability: understand what LCP, INP, and CLS actually tell you.

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A conceptual diagram of a page with many heavy layers simplified into a few lightweight layersPage weight11
3 min read2026-10-14

Good design travels light.

Reduce unnecessary bytes without stripping away the things your visitors came for.

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A simplified request flow from browser through DNS lookup and CDN to an origin serverInfrastructure12
3 min read2026-10-14

DNS, hosting & CDN. Know the difference.

DNS, CDN, and hosting work together. Here’s how to read the clues without jumping to conclusions.

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Showing 1–12 of 12 guides
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beats ten vague ideas.

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