SKAdNetwork

What is SKAdNetwork?

StoreKit Ad Network, or SKAdNetwork

StoreKit Ad Network (SKAdNetwork) is Apple's privacy-focused attribution API that allows advertisers to measure campaign effectiveness through aggregated install data without tracking individual user activity across applications.

How does SKAdNetwork protect user privacy?

This framework represents Apple's privacy-centric approach to mobile attribution, providing conversion data while protecting user privacy by eliminating device-level identifiers and cross-app tracking capabilities.

Through SKAdNetwork, the attribution process occurs entirely within Apple's ecosystem: the advertising app or network signs the advertisement with its ID, the App Store validates successful installations, and Apple directly notifies advertisers about conversions without revealing user-specific information.

How does SKAdNetwork work for iOS app attribution?

Developers implementing SKAdNetwork work within specific constraints including limited conversion values (typically representing user quality or value), strict postback timing windows, and aggregated reporting that lacks the granularity of traditional attribution methods.

The framework requires adaptation from both developers and marketers, necessitating changes to campaign measurement methodologies, optimization strategies, and monetization approaches. Despite these limitations, SKAdNetwork has become essential for iOS app promotion following Apple's privacy changes, requiring developers to implement proper configuration within their applications to ensure accurate measurement while respecting the platform's privacy-focused approach to user data.