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

GlossaryPrivacy & IdentityFirst-Party Data

Privacy & Identity

First-Party Data

Data a company collects directly from its own customers and audiences.

By Brandon MinaCEO, BrandPilot AIUpdated November 2026

Appears in Lesson 6 of Programmatic 101

Short answer

First-party data is information a company collects directly from its own customers and audiences, such as purchase history, website behavior, app activity, email engagement, and survey responses. Because it is gathered with a direct relationship, it is generally more accurate and privacy-compliant than purchased data. It has become central to targeting and measurement as cookies disappear.

A shopkeeper behind a counter hands a loyalty card to a customer beside an open ledger and a cash register. 1960s ink-and-gouache magazine-ad illustration.
First-party data: what customers share with you directly.