Test Modes

ReachScore provides two isolated modes: test mode for development and live mode for production testing.

Test Mode

For development and testing. Returns simulated results without sending real emails.

rk_test_...

Live Mode

For production. Tests real email deliverability with actual inbox placement checks.

rk_live_...

Key Differences

Feature	Test Mode	Live Mode
Email Processing	Simulated	Real emails sent and received
Inbox Placement	Simulated results	Actual Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo tests
Authentication Checks	Mock SPF/DKIM/DMARC	Real DNS lookups
Quota Usage	Does not count	Counts against plan
Response Time	Instant	30s-5min (real delivery)
Webhooks	Test endpoints only	Live endpoints only

Data Isolation

Test and live mode data are completely separate:

-Tests created with rk_test_ keys cannot be accessed with rk_live_ keys
-Domains and monitors are mode-specific
-Webhook endpoints are registered separately for each mode
-API keys can only access resources in their mode

Test Mode Behavior

In test mode, the API returns realistic simulated responses that mirror live mode structure:

// Test mode response (instant, simulated)
{
  "id": "test_7xK2mN9pQrT4v",
  "object": "test",
  "status": "completed",
  "livemode": false,
  "score": 85,
  "grade": "B",
  "auth_results": {
    "spf": "pass",
    "dkim": "pass",
    "dmarc": "pass"
  },
  "inbox_placement": {
    "gmail": "inbox",
    "outlook": "inbox",
    "yahoo": "inbox"
  }
}

Note: Test mode results are always positive and do not reflect your actual email configuration. Use live mode to test real deliverability.

When to Use Each Mode

Use Test Mode for:

- Building and testing your integration
- CI/CD pipeline testing
- Development and staging environments
- Testing webhook handlers
- Load testing API calls

Use Live Mode for:

- Testing actual email deliverability
- Verifying DNS configurations
- Pre-launch email campaign checks
- Ongoing deliverability monitoring
- Production environment

Switching Modes

Switch modes by using the appropriate API key. The key prefix determines the mode:

# Test mode
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer rk_test_abc123" \
  https://api.reachscore.co/v1/tests

# Live mode
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer rk_live_xyz789" \
  https://api.reachscore.co/v1/tests

In your SDK, initialize with the appropriate key:

// Use environment variables to switch modes
const client = new ReachScore({
  apiKey: process.env.REACHSCORE_API_KEY, // rk_test_* or rk_live_*
});

Previous: SPF, DKIM & DMARC Next: Domain Verification