Ask HN: Why do some companies use such long tracking links?

Posted by mikeyla85 on Sunday August 11, 2024 @05:35PM
from the ask-hn dept.

When I share a link on Facebook, the tracking code is sometimes longer than the URL itself! Why not just assign a single alphanumeric tracking code -- it's shorter, easier to copy, and would be less likely to be removed from the link.

Are they just throwing the tracking in our faces?

( 3 comments | 4 points | on HN )

Re:Ask HN: Why do some companies use such long tracking links? by jfdjkfdhjds on Sunday August 11, 2024 @06:13PM (#41219659)

user mapping and cookie matching are the advertising industry terms you need to search.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Why do some companies use such long tracking links? by mattl on Sunday August 11, 2024 @06:09PM (#41219641)

Can you give an example?

I suspect sometimes the tracking code is multiple different tracking codes combined together.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Why do some companies use such long tracking links? by bell-cot on Sunday August 11, 2024 @06:43PM (#41219813)

My money's on this one.

https://xkcd.com/927/

[ Parent | on HN ]