You are now entering the PC Anatomy portal

In a computing context, an affiliate most commonly refers to a partner in an affiliate marketing program. It is a person, website, or organization that advertises a company's products or services in exchange for a commission.

How it works

The affiliate-merchant relationship involves several key parties and technologies:

The affiliate (or "publisher"): The individual or entity that promotes the products or services through various online channels, such as a blog, social media, or a review website.

The merchant: The business selling the product or service that the affiliate is promoting.

Affiliate link: A unique URL provided to the affiliate that contains special tracking information. It allows the merchant to accurately track which affiliate is responsible for a user's click, lead, or sale.

Affiliate network: An optional intermediary platform that manages the relationship between merchants and affiliates, including tracking traffic and handling payments.