Glossary
Tracking & Attribution
Affiliate tracking

Affiliate tracking

Definition

The process of recording and attributing conversions — sales, sign-ups, or other goals — back to the specific affiliate who generated them.

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How Affiliate tracking work

When a visitor clicks an affiliate's link, a tracking identifier is stored — typically as a first-party cookie or URL parameter. When the visitor converts, the platform matches the identifier to the affiliate and records the commission. Tracking can also be done server-to-server via postback URLs for environments where cookies are unreliable.

Why it matters for your program

Accurate tracking is the foundation of a trustworthy affiliate program. If affiliates don't trust that their referrals are being counted correctly, they'll promote your competitors instead. And if your tracking overcounts, you'll pay out commissions you don't owe. Getting tracking right is non-negotiable.

CategoryTracking & Attribution
Common inAll affiliate program types
Payout triggerConversion event fires
Typical rateN/A — tracking method, not commission
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