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

GlossaryMeasurement & AttributionTracking Pixel

Measurement & Attribution

Tracking Pixel

A small piece of code that records a page view or event for measurement or targeting.

By Brandon MinaCEO, BrandPilot AIUpdated November 2026

Short answer

A tracking pixel is a small piece of code, often a tiny invisible image or script, that records a page view or event when it loads. Advertisers and analytics tools use pixels to measure conversions, build retargeting audiences and optimize campaigns. Their use is increasingly shaped by browser restrictions and privacy regulations.