Definition
Client-Side Tracking is a method of sending information to a measurement platform in which the browser executes a code that sends data to its own server that is responsible after sending it to tools such as Google Analytics or Facebook. It is the most common way to measure the interactions that happen on a website or app.
Differences between Client-Side Tracking and Server-Side Tracking
Both client-side tracking and server-side tracking measure how users interact with the web or app. The difference is how the data is collected. With the client side tracking the information is sent directly from the browser to the measurement tools, while with the server-side tracking the data is sent to its own server, which then distributes this data to the measurement platforms.
Advantages of Client-Side Tracking
- It is the system used by default, and requires hardly any technical knowledge to implement it.
- It provides contextual data such as IP, cookies, URL parameters and user agent.
- It’s economical. There are no server costs that in the case of Google Cloud can exceed € 100 / month.
Disadvantages of Client-Side Tracking
- It is easily detected by ad-blockers, who block the flow of information to the analytics platform.
- There is a risk of sending PII data to measurement tools, with the privacy risks that come with it.