What is the primary purpose of DKIM in email communication?

The primary purpose of DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) in email communication is to authenticate the legitimacy of the sender. DKIM achieves this by allowing the sender to sign their emails with a digital signature. This signature is generated using a private key that corresponds to a public key published in the domain's DNS records. When the recipient’s mail server receives the email, it can verify the signature against the public key. This process confirms that the email truly comes from the stated sender and that it hasn't been tampered with during transmission.

This authentication helps to enhance email security by preventing spoofing and phishing attempts, which can mislead recipients into thinking an email is from a legitimate source when it is not. By ensuring the authenticity of the sender, DKIM plays a crucial role in maintaining trust in email communications.