Tracking Pixel.

A tiny, often 1x1 transparent image or beacon embedded in a web page or email to silently record opens, visits, and other user events. It belongs to the Privacy & Data Protection category of cybersecurity.

A tiny, often 1x1 transparent image or beacon embedded in a web page or email to silently record opens, visits, and other user events.

A tracking pixel is a small image, iframe, or JavaScript beacon that triggers an HTTP request to a tracking server whenever a page is rendered or an email is opened. The server logs information such as IP address, user agent, referrer, timestamps, and any associated identifier, allowing marketers to measure email reads, ad impressions, and conversions. In email, tracking pixels reveal that and when a message was read, often without user awareness. Defences include disabling automatic image loading in email clients, proxying images through services that strip identifiers (Apple Mail Privacy Protection), browser content blockers, and laws requiring consent for non-essential tracking.

Defences for Tracking Pixel typically combine technical controls and operational practices, as detailed in the full definition above.

Common alternative names include: 1x1 pixel, Web beacon, Tracking beacon.