Collecting Device Data

Where each device_data field comes from on iOS, and what attribution loses without it.

device_data is the object you send on init, attribution-data, and signup. It carries the signals Linkrunner uses to match an install to a click. On iOS, every field comes from an Apple framework, so you need no third-party libraries.

The full client collects all of these for you. This page explains each one so you can trust, trim, or rebuild that collection.

Info.plist

To collect the IDFA, add a tracking usage description. Nothing else here needs a permission.

<key>NSUserTrackingUsageDescription</key>
<string>We use your data to attribute installs and measure ad performance.</string>

What to send

Field	Source on iOS	Importance
adservices_attribution_token	AAAttribution.attributionToken()	High. Apple Search Ads attribution.
idfa	ASIdentifierManager, after ATT consent	High, when the user allows tracking.
idfv	UIDevice.identifierForVendor	Recommended. Matching fallback.
device, device_name, system_version	UIDevice	Recommended.
brand, manufacturer	Always "Apple"	Recommended.
version, build_number, bundle_id	Bundle.main	Recommended.
locale, language, country, timezone, timezone_offset	Locale, TimeZone	Recommended.
device_display	UIScreen.main	Optional.
user_agent, connectivity	App-defined, NWPathMonitor	Optional.

If you send neither adservices_attribution_token nor idfa, install registration still works, but paid attribution for Apple Search Ads and ad-network matching will be weak or missing.

Apple Search Ads attribution token

This is the most reliable iOS attribution signal and needs no user permission. The AdServices framework returns a short-lived token that Linkrunner exchanges with Apple server-side.

import AdServices

func adServicesToken() -> String? {
    try? AAAttribution.attributionToken()
}

The token is valid only briefly. Fetch it fresh each time you build device_data rather than caching it.

Advertising ID (IDFA)

The IDFA is only available after the user grants App Tracking Transparency. Add NSUserTrackingUsageDescription, prompt while the app is active, then read the IDFA.

import AppTrackingTransparency
import AdSupport

// Prompt once, when the app is active (for example after the first screen appears)
func requestTracking() async {
    await withCheckedContinuation { cont in
        ATTrackingManager.requestTrackingAuthorization { _ in cont.resume() }
    }
}

// Read the IDFA only if the user authorized tracking
func idfa() -> String? {
    guard ATTrackingManager.trackingAuthorizationStatus == .authorized else { return nil }
    return ASIdentifierManager.shared().advertisingIdentifier.uuidString
}

If your app targets children, do not request tracking and do not collect the IDFA.

Vendor ID (IDFV)

The IDFV needs no permission. It is stable across your apps on the same device, but resets when the user removes all of your apps.

import UIKit

let idfv = await UIDevice.current.identifierForVendor?.uuidString

SKAdNetwork

iOS measures ad-driven installs through SKAdNetwork. After you call init, signup, capture-event, or capture-payment, the response can include a conversion value:

{
  "data": {
    "fine_conversion_value": 12,
    "coarse_conversion_value": "medium",
    "lock_postback": false
  }
}

Apply it with SKAdNetwork.updatePostbackConversionValue. The full client does this for you in applySKAN. See SKAdNetwork integration for the dashboard side.

Everything else

Plain framework lookups. The full client includes them.

• device, device_name, system_version: UIDevice.current
• device_display: UIScreen.main.bounds and scale
• locale, language, country: Locale.current
• timezone, timezone_offset: TimeZone.current
• App info: Bundle.main for version (CFBundleShortVersionString), build_number (CFBundleVersion), and bundle_id

Need help? Contact support@linkrunner.io