What is a Click ID? Meaning, How It Works, and Every Parameter
Also known as: click identifier, gclid fbclid ttclid
Short answer
A Click ID is a unique code the ad platform attaches to your URL when someone clicks your ad. That code is proof the visit came from one specific ad. When the person buys, the same code is sent back, so the platform knows which ad produced the sale.
Example
Someone clicks a Google Ads ad and lands on `konektor.id/?gclid=CjwKCAjw...`. That `gclid` value is the Click ID for the visit.
The simple way to think about it
Picture a parking ticket.
- You enter the car park and take a numbered ticket. That is clicking the ad.
- You shop inside the building. That is browsing the website.
- On the way out, the ticket is scanned. That is buying.
- The operator knows exactly when you arrived and which entrance you used.
A Click ID is the number on that ticket. The number means nothing to you, and everything to whoever runs the entrance.
The Click ID parameter for each platform
| Platform | Parameter name | Where it rides |
|---|---|---|
| Google Ads | gclid, wbraid, gbraid | Appended to the destination URL |
| Meta (Facebook and Instagram) | fbclid | Appended to the destination URL |
| Meta Click to WhatsApp | ctwa_clid | Arrives inside the first message |
| TikTok Ads | ttclid | Appended to the destination URL |
| LinkedIn Ads | li_fat_id | Appended to the destination URL |
Why Click IDs go missing so often
Many sales do not finish on the website. Someone clicks an ad, moves to WhatsApp, then pays by transfer. That chain breaks the link between click and sale, unless the Click ID is stored the moment the conversation starts.
| Situation | Click ID |
|---|---|
| Buys on the website, one device | Safe |
| Clicks on mobile, buys on desktop | Lost, needs customer data matching |
| Clicks the ad then moves to WhatsApp | Safe when stored as the chat begins |
| Clicks the ad then visits a physical shop | Must be sent as an offline conversion |
| Clears site data before buying | Lost |
How Konektor uses it
Konektor captures the Click ID on the first visit, stores it with the lead, then sends it back to the ad platform when that lead becomes a sale. Sales that close on WhatsApp, over the phone, or in a physical shop stay connected to the ad that started them.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a Click ID for?
- A Click ID links one ad click to one sale. Without it, the ad platform only guesses which ad worked. With it, the link is certain, so the auction can go looking for people who actually buy.
- How long does a Click ID last?
- A Click ID is stored in your own site storage, usually 30 to 90 days depending on the platform. That is why a sale several days after the click can still be traced to the ad that started it.
- What happens when the Click ID is lost?
- A Click ID can be lost when someone switches device, uses another browser, or clears site data. As a fallback, ad platforms match customer details such as email and phone as one-way codes. Accuracy is lower but still useful.
- Does a Click ID contain personal data?
- The Click ID itself is only letters and digits. It carries no name, email, or phone number. What gives it meaning is the ad platform that issued it, because only that platform knows which click it stands for.
Related terms
Konektor guides
Your ad numbers are only as accurate as the data behind them
Konektor captures the Click ID and sends conversions that close on WhatsApp, over the phone, or in a shop back to the ad platform.