E-mail check at sign-up
Catch typos and missing mailboxes at sign-up with the MobileValidate e-mail check: fix invalid addresses, confirm unknown mailboxes and allow uncertain answers. Node and Python.
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View as MarkdownThis recipe checks an e-mail address before you send the confirmation e-mail. It catches typos and mailboxes that don't exist, without blocking real users on uncertain answers. There is a Node version and a Python version.
What does it decide?
| Result | Decision |
|---|---|
email_status is not valid | Fix: show the API's suggestion, such as a mistyped domain |
registered: false | Confirm: "We couldn't find this mailbox. Is the address spelled correctly?" |
registered: true | Allow |
registered: null (unknown) | Allow |
| The check fails | Allow, and log the error code and request id |
What does the code look like?
const { data, error } = await mv.lookup({ emails: [email], checks: ["email"], wait: 5, waitTimeoutMs: 8_000 });
if (error) return { decision: "allow" }; // fail open
const row = data.results[0];
if (row.email_status !== "valid") return { decision: "fix", message: row.suggestion };
const registered = row.checks["email.valid"].registered;
if (registered === false) return { decision: "confirm" };
return { decision: "allow" }; // true, or null (unknown)lookup = mv.lookup(emails=[email], checks=["email"], wait=5, wait_timeout=8)
row = lookup["results"][0]
registered = row.get("checks", {}).get("email.valid", {}).get("registered") # True / False / NoneHow do I test it?
Use the test addresses on test.mobilevalidate.com with the public sandbox key: registered@ allows, not-registered@ asks to confirm, unknown@ allows and pending@ allows after about 5 seconds. See test values. Log the error code and requestId, never the address itself.
Frequently asked questions
Should I block sign-ups when the mailbox is not found?
No. Ask the user to confirm the spelling and let them continue if they insist. Block only addresses that are invalid.
Does the e-mail check return names or profiles?
No. E-mail answers are yes, no or unknown only.