Back to all glossary articles

Server-side tracking with a first party collector

Server-side tracking with a first-party collector is a hybrid tracking method. The collected data is sent to a server that hosts the website or app, and then passed to the analytics instance. Cookies are set from the reverse proxy server that is located within the main website domain. The request comes directly from the domain, and not a third-party analytics platform. It is undetectable in browsers and is not blocked by ad blockers.

Implementation of server-side tracking with a first-party collector is as easy as with client-side tracking. At the same time, you can immensely improve data accuracy and data control. Moreover:

  • You can still collect data like in a client-side mechanism
  • You don’t have to use server-side Google Tag Manager or get any Google servers involved

Find more details on server-side tracking with a first party collector on the Piwik PRO blog:

Server-side analytics tracking with first-party collector: What you need to know

Google Chrome Will Wipe out Third-Party Cookies. What’s Next?

Why first-party data is the most valuable to marketers

  • Piwik PRO Acquia award

    Piwik PRO recognized as the Emerging Partner of the Year by Acquia

    Organizations in regulated industries face a persistent challenge: they need sophisticated analytics and personalization to stay competitive, but must also meet strict requirements around data protection and user consent. For teams using enterprise digital experience platforms, this often means choosing between powerful marketing tools or compliance-first approaches. We’ve been working to solve this through our…

  • Banking website analytics for financial services: Tracking without compromising customer trust

    You don’t have to choose between insights and trust – modern banking analytics can deliver both when implemented correctly. This article explores best practices and recommended steps for banking website analytics, as well as ways to avoid common pitfalls to ensure compliance without sacrificing the quality of insights.

Other definitions

Recent posts from Piwik PRO blog