Partner Federation Glossary — last updated September 2026
Postback (S2S) Tracking is a method where the broker’s own server notifies the affiliate tracking platform directly when a conversion happens — a signup, an FTD — using a shared click ID, instead of relying on a cookie stored in the client’s browser. Because it doesn’t depend on the browser at all, it isn’t affected by ad blockers, cleared cookies, or the privacy restrictions built into browsers like Safari and Chrome the way cookie-based tracking is.
Why It Matters for Partners
This is the tracking method that decides whether a partner actually gets credited for the clients they refer. A program still running on cookie-only tracking will quietly lose conversions to ad blockers and privacy-focused browsers, while server-to-server tracking captures them regardless of what’s happening on the visitor’s device. It’s worth asking any program directly which method it uses — alongside its cookie duration and attribution window — before assuming referrals are being counted accurately.
For the full breakdown of how tracking and attribution actually work together, see Tracking & Attribution.