Glossary · Analytics and measurement
Website tracking
Configured collection of website interactions or technical signals for measurement, diagnostics, or attribution.
Also called: tracking configuration, tracking configurations, analytics tag, analytics tags
Definition
Website tracking connects page or event behavior to an analytics, advertising, monitoring, or operational destination. A complete implementation names the source, fields, trigger, consent behavior, filters, destination, and validation method.
Why it matters
Tracking that is absent, duplicated, mislabeled, or routed to the wrong account can make decisions and reporting unreliable.
Common misunderstanding
Installing a tag does not prove that the desired event is recorded correctly, legally appropriate, or useful to the business.
Related terms
Related system family: Measurement & Search Signals
Sources
- Google Analytics Data API overview (opens in a new tab) · Google for Developers
- Privacy Framework (opens in a new tab) · NIST
Last reviewed July 16, 2026