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Adobe Analytics data collection APIs

Send data directly to Adobe Analytics collection servers without a client-side library (AppMeasurement or tags).

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Resources

Overview

This documentation covers the methods for programmatically collecting data into Adobe Analytics, including:

Data Insertion API: Send event data one hit at a time using a query string or as XML.
Bulk Data Insertion API: Upload batches of server call data to Adobe Analytics.
Media Collection API: Track streaming media sessions server-side with RESTful HTTP calls.

Compare each method

Analytics collection methods differ by volume, timing, authentication, and payload. This table provides a high level comparison between each method.

Method

Use it when

Volume and timing

Authentication

Payload and transport

Data Insertion API

Implementing Analytics server-side or independent of a data collection library

One hit per request, real time

None

A query string (GET or POST), or an XML POST

Bulk Data Insertion API

You collect high volumes of data server-side, backfill historical data, or feed data from an ETL or offline pipeline

Batches of many events per file, up to one file per second; optimized for large files sent less frequently

OAuth Server-to-Server

Gzip-compressed CSV files uploaded as multipart/form-data

Media Collection API

You track streaming audio or video server-side without the Media SDK

One media event per request, real time, grouped into a session

None

An HTTP POST with a JSON body

Other data collection methods

Data collection libraries: Includes AppMeasurement, the Web SDK, and their respective tag extensions. These libraries generate image requests for you using client-side variables. See the Adobe Analytics implementation guide.
Edge Network APIs: For Edge Network collection, including the Media Edge API, see the Data Collection APIs.
Data Sources: To import offline or external data on a scheduled basis and tie it to existing Analytics data, see Data Sources in the Analytics Import guide.

This user guide adheres to Adobe's Code of Conduct. Contributions are encouraged and appreciated. See Adobe's Code of Conduct and Contribution Guidelines on GitHub for more information.