Updated September 2026

What Is a Tracking Link? How Tracked URLs Work

A tracking link is a URL designed to record or preserve information about a click before sending the visitor to the intended destination.

What a tracking link can record

Depending on the system, it may record timestamp, campaign parameters, referring context, device or location information, and a unique click identifier.

Redirects are common

Many tracking links briefly route through a tracking domain before sending the visitor to the landing page.

Tracking links are not the same as UTMs

A UTM-tagged destination can be visited directly without a tracking redirect. A tracking link may also carry UTMs or other parameters.

Use them deliberately

Tracking links are useful for paid campaigns, affiliate marketing, email, partnerships, or any workflow where click-level context matters.