Awin parameter
What is the awc parameter?
awc is Awin's awin click id. awc is appended to the merchant URL when Awin registers your click. It encodes the merchant ID, a timestamp, and a unique click reference, and it is what Awin’s merchant-side tag reads to set the attribution cookie. Seeing awc land on the final page is the strongest quick proof an Awin link tracks.
Where it appears
Appended to the merchant URL after the redirect
Example
https://merchant.com/product?awc=12345_1720000000_ab3f9cIf awc is missing
The click was probably still registered at the awin1.com hop and stored in a cookie — many merchants strip query parameters from the visible URL. Verify the click in your Awin dashboard rather than assuming it failed.
How Awin tracking fits together
A standard Awin deep link runs through awin1.com/cread.php. The awinmid parameter identifies the merchant, awinaffid identifies you, and ued carries the URL-encoded destination page. When a visitor clicks, Awin registers the click server-side, sets its tracking cookie, and redirects to the merchant with an awc click ID appended.
Because the destination is embedded inside the link, an Awin link can fail in two independent places: the Awin hop (program closed, merchant left) and the destination page (product removed, URL changed). A correct health check has to verify both.
Frequently asked questions
What does the awc parameter do?
awc is Awin's awin click id. awc is appended to the merchant URL when Awin registers your click.
What if awc is missing?
The click was probably still registered at the awin1.com hop and stored in a cookie — many merchants strip query parameters from the visible URL. Verify the click in your Awin dashboard rather than assuming it failed.
Is awc in my analytics affiliate traffic?
Yes — if awc shows up in your site analytics or server logs, that traffic arrived via Awin affiliate links.
Related
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