Spectacle tag

Spectacle tag by Stape is a custom Google Tag Manager (GTM) server-side template designed to send tracking data directly from a server container to the Spectacle API.

Benefits

• Bypassed ad blockers and ITP restrictions. Since tracking requests are sent server-to-server directly to the Spectacle API, events are shielded from ad blockers and browser restrictions like Safari's Intelligent Tracking Prevention (ITP).
• Improved website speed and performance. Eliminates the need to load heavy client-side tracking scripts or SDKs in the visitor's browser, reducing JavaScript execution overhead
• Automated first-party cookie and identity stitching. The tag automatically generates, sets, and maintains Spectacle's first-party cookies:
  • sp__anon_id – anonymous visitor identifier.
  • sp__user_id – persistent identified user identifier.

Cookies are set through HTTP response headers with a 365-day lifespan, enabling user stitching across sessions and subdomains..

• Automatic context extraction. The tag automatically extracts and sends standard user context (campaign UTMs, page data, device details) from incoming event data without requiring manual variable configuration.
• Enhanced privacy and compliance controls. Built-in support to check consent status before executing tags and setting cookies. Gives complete control on the server to transform or filter sensitive properties before forwarding them to Spectacle.
• Unified support for all core Spectacle API methods. A single tag template supports all primary Spectacle tracking methods (page, identify, track, group)

Useful links

• Spectacle tag in the GTM Template Gallery
• How to set up Spectacle tag