Glossary
Affiliate terms
Affiliate Marketing Glossary
Plain-English definitions of affiliate tracking terms. No jargon, no textbook fluff. Just what you need to run a program.
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- Affiliate Marketing Tracking MethodsAffiliate marketing tracking methods are the techniques used to attribute conversions back to the partner who drove them — cookie tracking, server-to-server postbacks, coupon codes, deterministic matching, and device fingerprinting.
- Affiliate Network vs Affiliate ProgramAn affiliate network is a marketplace connecting brands with affiliates, while an affiliate program is your own direct partner channel.
- Affiliate PostbackAn affiliate postback is an HTTP call your backend sends to the tracking platform when a conversion happens, telling it which affiliate to credit. The standard mechanism behind every modern affiliate program — replaces unreliable pixel tracking that fails under iOS privacy and ad blockers.
- Affiliate TrackingAffiliate tracking software records clicks, conversions, and commissions so brands can pay partners accurately and optimize program performance.
- Affiliate Tracking LinkAn affiliate tracking link is a unique URL assigned to a partner that attributes clicks and conversions back to them through a click ID, query parameters, and a redirect through the tracking platform.
- Affiliate Tracking SoftwareAffiliate tracking software is the platform that records clicks, attributes conversions to partners, calculates payouts, and reports performance for affiliate programs — the infrastructure layer that makes partner attribution possible.
- AttributionAttribution is the process of determining which affiliate or marketing channel deserves credit for a conversion. Learn about attribution models and how they affect your affiliate program.
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- Click DeduplicationClick deduplication prevents the same visitor from being counted as multiple clicks, giving you accurate traffic metrics.
- Click FraudClick fraud is the practice of generating fake or invalid clicks on affiliate links to inflate metrics, steal commissions, or drain advertising budgets.
- Conversion HoldbackConversion holdback is a waiting period between when a conversion is recorded and when the affiliate commission is approved for payment.
- Conversion PixelA conversion pixel is a JavaScript snippet placed on your thank-you page that fires when a customer completes a desired action. Learn how pixels work, their limitations, and when to use server-side tracking instead.
- Conversion TrackingConversion tracking is the process of recording when a visitor completes a desired action and attributing it to the marketing source that drove it. Learn how conversion tracking works across affiliate, paid, and organic channels.
- Cookie WindowA cookie window is the period of time after a click during which a conversion can still be attributed to the referring affiliate. Learn how to set the right duration for your program.
- Cookieless TrackingCookieless tracking (also called cookieless affiliate tracking) attributes conversions without relying on browser cookies, using server-side postbacks, coupon codes, deterministic matching, and first-party methods that survive ad blockers and browser privacy restrictions.
- Coupon AttributionCoupon attribution credits a conversion to an affiliate based on the promo code used at checkout, not a tracking link click.
- CPA (Cost Per Action)CPA is a pricing model where you pay affiliates a fixed amount for each completed action like a sale, signup, or lead. Learn how to set the right CPA for your program.
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- Partner PortalA partner portal is a self-serve dashboard where affiliates can access their links, view performance data, and manage their account.
- Postback TrackingPostback tracking sends conversion events from your backend directly to the tracking platform via HTTP, replacing browser pixels that fail under ad blockers and modern privacy defaults. The de facto standard for affiliate attribution in 2026.
- Postback URLA postback URL is a server-to-server callback that notifies your tracking system when a conversion happens, without relying on the browser. Learn how postback URLs work, when to use them, and how to set one up — the affiliate-marketing standard in 2026.
- Postback URL ParametersReference guide to the parameters every affiliate postback URL accepts — click_id, amount, txn_id, event, currency, coupon_code, sub IDs, and platform-specific extensions. Includes example postback URLs, deduplication patterns, and required vs optional fields.
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- Referral TrackingReferral tracking software records when one person sends a customer to your business and attributes the conversion to the right referrer. Learn how referral tracking works, what to look for in software, and how it differs from affiliate tracking.
- Revenue Share (RevShare)RevShare is a commission model where affiliates earn a percentage of each sale they refer, aligning their earnings with your revenue.
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- Server-Side Conversion TrackingServer-side conversion tracking sends conversion data directly from your backend to ad platforms and affiliate networks instead of relying on browser pixels — improving accuracy under iOS privacy defaults, ad blockers, and third-party cookie restrictions.
- Server-Side Tracking ToolsServer-side tracking tools handle the conversion-reporting layer that browser pixels can no longer cover reliably. Compare affiliate platforms (Trcker, Impact, Everflow), ad-platform CAPI tools, and general-purpose server-side analytics by what they actually attribute.
- Server-to-Server TrackingServer-to-server tracking (S2S tracking), also called server-side tracking, sends conversion data directly between servers instead of through the browser, giving affiliate programs reliable attribution that ad blockers and cookie restrictions cannot break.
- Smart LinksSmart links automatically route visitors to different destinations based on geography, device, OS, or other attributes. Learn how smart link routing works, why it increases conversion rates, and how to set it up.
- Sub-ID TrackingSub-ID tracking lets affiliates append custom parameters to their links to identify which campaigns, placements, or creatives drive results. Learn how sub-IDs work and why they matter.
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