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The Madison Avenue Field GuideA field guide to marketing & advertising, by Brandon Mina

GlossaryData & MartechData Layer

Data & Martech

Data Layer

A structured JavaScript object on a website that holds page, user and event information for tag managers and analytics tools to read consistently.

By Brandon MinaCEO, BrandPilot AIUpdated November 2026

Short answer

A data layer is a structured JavaScript object on a website that holds page, user and event information, such as product IDs or transaction values, for tag managers and analytics tools to read consistently. It separates data from page design, making tracking more reliable and easier to maintain as sites change.