Affiliate tag
The unique identifier inside an affiliate URL that tells the network which publisher to credit. Different networks call it different names but the function is the same.
The affiliate tag is the part of the URL the network uses to attribute clicks to your account. Amazon calls it tag (?tag=yourname-20). Awin calls it awinaffid. Webgains and Partnerize use clickref. Impact uses irclickid plus various subId parameters. The parameter name varies; the role is identical.
Tags are typically locale-specific (an Amazon US -20 tag does not work on amazon.nl), case-sensitive, and required in the final URL after all redirects resolve. If the tag is missing, malformed, or stripped during a redirect chain, the network treats the visit as anonymous traffic and you earn nothing.
Related terms
Affiliate link
A URL that contains a tracking parameter identifying you as the referrer, so the merchant can credit you a commission when the click converts to a sale.
GlossaryLast-click attribution
The model affiliate networks use to credit commissions: whoever was the last affiliate to send a visitor before they purchased gets the commission, regardless of who introduced them to the product.
GlossaryCookie window
The timeframe between a visitor clicking your affiliate link and completing a purchase, during which the network will credit you the commission. Varies by program, from 24 hours (Amazon) to 30+ days (most other networks).