Parse CAA Records in a Cell
Formula
The API parses CAA record strings and provides detailed information about issuance policies, including recognized CA providers and critical flags.
=VERVE("caaparser", A2)=VERVE.CALL("caaparser", A2)A2 holds the record you're looking up. Drag the formula down and each row resolves on its own.
With literal values
Nothing has to come from a cell — typed values work the same way.
=VERVE("caaparser", "example.com. 3600 IN CAA 0 issue ""letsencrypt.org""")Inputs
Required inputs are positional, in the order below. Everything else is passed as a "name", value pair after them — the same shape as SUMIFS.
| Input | Type | Where it goes | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
recordRequired | string | argument 2 | The CAA record string to parse (e.g. example.com. 3600 IN CAA 0 issue "letsencrypt.org") |
What lands in your sheet
With no "field" pair the formula spills the whole response as two columns — field name on the left, value on the right — starting at the cell you typed in. Make sure the cells below and to the right are empty.
Pulling one value
Add a "field" pair to get a single cell back instead of a table. The field name is the dot-path from the table below.
=VERVE("caaparser", A2, "field", "raw_record")=VERVE.CALL("caaparser", A2, "field", "raw_record")Available fields
#PREMIUM(field) rather than a value, so a locked field never looks like a real answer.| Use as "field" | Type | Example cell value | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
raw_record | string | example.com. 3600 IN CAA 0 issue "letsencrypt.org" | The original CAA record string provided for parsing |
parsed | object | {…} | |
parsed.domain | string | example.com | Domain name extracted from the CAA record |
parsed.ttl | number | 3600 | Time-to-live value in seconds for the CAA record |
parsed.class | string | IN | DNS class designation, typically IN for internet |
parsed.flags | number | 0 | CAA record flags value indicating record criticality |
parsed.tag | string | issue | CAA tag type such as issue, issuewild, or iodef |
parsed.value | string | letsencrypt.org | Value associated with the CAA tag |
ca_infoPremium | object | {…} | Information about the recognized Certificate Authority |
ca_info.name | string | Let's Encrypt | Recognized Certificate Authority name if identified |
ca_info.type | string | Free | Certificate Authority type classification such as Free or Commercial |
ca_info.wildcard_support | boolean | true | Indicates if the CA supports wildcard certificate issuance |
interpretationPremium | object | {…} | Detailed interpretation and security analysis of CAA record |
interpretation.meaning | string | Only letsencrypt.org is authorized to issue certificates | Human-readable explanation of what the CAA record authorizes |
interpretation.restriction | string | Restricted to specific CA | Description of access restrictions imposed by this CAA record |
interpretation.critical | boolean | false | Indicates if the critical flag is set on the CAA record |
interpretation.critical_explanation | string | Non-critical - CA may proceed if not understood | Explanation of critical flag behavior and implications |
tag_descriptionPremium | string | Authorizes a CA to issue certificates (any type) | Description of the CAA tag purpose and behavior |
is_valid | boolean | true | Validation status indicating if the CAA record is properly formatted |
Filling a whole column
Hand the first argument a range instead of a cell and the add-in makes one batched call for the lot, then spills the answers down. That is faster than dragging the formula and costs the same credits — one per row looked up.
=VERVE("caaparser", A2:A100, "field", "raw_record")=VERVE.CALL("caaparser", A2:A100, "field", "raw_record")A2:A100 is the column of record values. The result spills down alongside it, one row per input, blanks skipped.
When a cell doesn't fill
A failed lookup returns readable text starting with #ERR rather than a spreadsheet error, because Excel cannot show a custom message on a real error — you would get a bare #VALUE! with no reason. The trade-off is that IFERROR() won't catch it; test with LEFT(cell, 4) = "#ERR" instead.
| Cell reads | What happened |
|---|---|
#ERR Not connected | No API key saved. Open the side panel and connect your account. |
#ERR Replace <name> with a cell or value | The preview formula was copied as-is. Swap the placeholder for a cell reference. |
#ERR No "x" in caaparser | An option name that this source doesn't take. The message lists the ones it does. |
#ERR No data point "…" | The "field" path isn't in the response. Check the dot-path against the table above. |
#PREMIUM(field) | The field exists but your plan doesn't include it. |
#ERR Out of credits | The month's credits are spent. Usage resets on your billing date. |
Before the formula works
The add-in reads the API key you saved once in the side panel — the key never goes in the formula, so a shared sheet doesn't leak it and a collaborator without access simply sees the last calculated values.
- Install the add-in for Google Sheets or Excel.
- Open the side panel and sign in, or paste a key from your dashboard.
- Type the formula above into any cell.
Other ways to use Parse CAA Records in a Cell
Set up Parse CAA Records in a Cell on VerveSheets, or reach the same source a different way. Your VerveSheets account and credits work on all of them — one key, one balance.
Frequently asked questions
Does Parse CAA Records in a Cell work in both Google Sheets and Excel?
Yes — the same source, the same arguments. Sheets calls it =VERVE("caaparser", …) and Excel calls it =VERVE.CALL("caaparser", …); that function name is the only difference.
Do the cells recalculate on their own?
They recalculate when the sheet does — on edit, on open, or on a manual recalc. Each recalculation is a fresh call and spends credits, so for a large static column it's worth copying the results and pasting them as values.
How many credits does a filled column cost?
1 credit per row looked up, whether you drag the formula or pass a range. The range form is one HTTP call instead of many, but the credit count is the same.
Can I share the sheet without sharing my key?
Yes. The key is stored against your account, not in the file. Collaborators see the values already in the cells; formulas only recalculate for someone who has connected their own account.
Why is a cell showing #ERR instead of an error?
So you can read the reason. Excel can't display a custom message on a real spreadsheet error, so the add-in returns the explanation as text on both platforms instead.