---
title: "General Tag Functionality"
slug: "general-tag-functionality"
updated: 2024-06-13T21:35:36Z
published: 2024-06-13T21:35:36Z
canonical: "onpremises.webtrends.help/general-tag-functionality"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://onpremises.webtrends.help/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# General Tag Functionality

## General

Regardless of the installation method chose, the end result of the tagging implementation is the insertion of multiple *JavaScript* files into the site that are loaded by the visiting client browser. These JavaScript files gather the desired data and send it to *Webtrends SDC* logging servers as a 1x1 pixel image request, known as a [web beacon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_beacon). Each page load or link click can trigger a new beacon to the logging servers, to be analyzed by the Webtrends Analytics engine. Additional events for video tracking or similar technologies may also occur.

### JavaScript Files

The JavaScript files can be seen in the web browsers Developer Tools **Debugger** or **Sources** (Chrome) tab. The list of JavaScript files may vary on each installation method slightly. However, you should always expect the *webtrends.js* and *webtrends.sp.js* to appear in the debugger sources at a minimum. The *webtrends.load.js* file is always present in *classic* experience pages, however, it will be hidden in *modern* experience.

1. **webtrends.load.js** - This is the *loader* file responsible for configuring the tag and initiating the loading of additional files.
  1. This file is *embedded* within the **App-Extension** and will not be directly visible in Modern sites.
2. **webtrends.js** - This is the core library used to gather information and send the beacon *hits** to Webtrends.
3. **webtrends.sp.js** - This is an *Tag Plugin* that provides additional functionality to the base tag.  This provides the SharePoint data and tracking for things such the SharePoint SIte URL or document clicks tracking.
4. **webtrends.ups.js** - This is an *Tag Plugin* that connects to the *SharePoint User Profile Service* to retreive *User Profile* data.
  1. This file is *optional* and may not appear in your installation.

          Note:

          

There may be additional **webtrends.xxxxxx.js** *Tag Plugins* enabled in your installation that are optional.

          Note:

          

The files names may also have additional text in them such as **.min** (a minified version), or **2013** (a SharePoint Version), or possibly a randomized string that acts as a GUID in *modern* tagging.

For example: *webtrends.sp.**min**.js*

### Beacon Request

Each event tracked by Webtrends will send a beacon request to the SmartSource Data Collector server(s) via a secure connection (https).

The domain is following by a **DCSID**, which is a 30 digit data source identifier starting with the text *dcs*, followed by 22 randomized *alpha-numeric* characters, followed by an underscore, and finally four additional *alpha-numeric* characters.

The DCSID is followed by **dcs.gif**, which is the 1x1 pixel image file delivered by the server in response to the request.

The dcs.gif is followed by a series of **query parameters** in *parameter=value* pairs that contain the actual data sent to Webtrends for analysis.

The **hit** looks similar to the following:

          
          

**https:**//*sdc.yourdomain.com*/**dcsxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx_xxxx**/*dcs.gif*?**dcsdat-123456789123&dcssip=example.com&**...

Continue: [Verifying Microsoft Edge](https://onpremises.webtrends.help/docs/verifying-microsoft-edge) [Verifying Chrome](https://onpremises.webtrends.help/docs/verifying-chrome) [Verifying FireFox](https://onpremises.webtrends.help/docs/verifying-firefox)