Ingestion API

An ingestion API is an interface that lets systems send events directly and programmatically into an analytics tool, instead of relying solely on a browser script.

An ingestion API stands against client-side collection and is for cases where a browser script is not enough: an event that happens on the server (payment confirmation, a subscription cancellation), an event from a system with no web interface, or importing historical data. Its main advantage is less fragility; a server-side event does not depend on the network and the user's browser, so it is lost less. But two things must be known. First, a server-side event usually carries less identity and context than a browser event and must be deliberately enriched. Second, any programmatic intake is a new trust surface that needs authentication and validation, or it becomes a gateway for forged data. An ingestion API gives the power to cover non-browser events, at the cost of more responsibility for quality and security.