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Add DATALYR to your iOS app to track users, conversions, and revenue with server-side attribution and SKAdNetwork support.

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Use Cases

E-commerce Apps Track purchases, cart additions, and product views. Attribute revenue back to ad campaigns on Meta, Google, and TikTok. Subscription Apps Monitor trial starts, conversions, and renewals with iOS 14+ attribution via SKAdNetwork. SaaS Mobile Apps Track feature usage, user engagement, and subscription upgrades with cross-device attribution. Mobile Games Track in-app purchases, level completions, and retention with gaming-optimized SKAdNetwork templates.

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Before You Start

  • You have a DATALYR account
  • You’ve created a workspace
  • You have an iOS app project in Xcode
  • iOS 13.0+ deployment target
  • Swift 5.0+

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Step 1: Get Your API Key

  1. Log in to your DATALYR dashboard
  2. Go to Settings → API Keys
  3. Create a new API key or copy an existing one
  4. Your API key will start with dk_

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Step 2: Install the SDK

  1. In Xcode, select File → Add Package Dependencies
  2. Enter the repository URL: 
    https://github.com/datalyr/swift
  3. Select version 1.0.2 or later
  4. Add DatalyrSDK to your app target

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Option 2: CocoaPods

Add to your Podfile: 
pod 'DatalyrSwift', '~> 1.0.2'
Then run: 
pod install

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Option 3: Manual Installation

  1. Download the SDK from GitHub Releases
  2. Drag Sources/DatalyrSDK folder into your Xcode project
  3. Ensure “Copy items if needed” is checked

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Step 3: Initialize the SDK

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SwiftUI App

Add to your App struct: 
import SwiftUI
import DatalyrSDK

@main
struct MyApp: App {
    init() {
        Task {
            let config = DatalyrConfig(
                apiKey: "dk_your_api_key", // Replace with your API key
                debug: true // Enable debug logs in development
            )

            do {
                try await DatalyrSDK.shared.initialize(config: config)
                print("DATALYR initialized successfully")
            } catch {
                print("DATALYR initialization failed: \(error)")
            }
        }
    }

    var body: some Scene {
        WindowGroup {
            ContentView()
        }
    }
}

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UIKit App

Add to your AppDelegate: 
import UIKit
import DatalyrSDK

@main
class AppDelegate: UIResponder, UIApplicationDelegate {
    func application(
        _ application: UIApplication,
        didFinishLaunchingWithOptions launchOptions: [UIApplication.LaunchOptionsKey: Any]?
    ) -> Bool {
        Task {
            let config = DatalyrConfig(
                apiKey: "dk_your_api_key",
                debug: true
            )

            try? await DatalyrSDK.shared.initialize(config: config)
        }

        return true
    }
}

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Step 4: Track Your First Event

Test that tracking works: 
import DatalyrSDK

// Track a custom event
await DatalyrSDK.shared.track("App Opened", eventData: [
    "screen": "Home",
    "version": "1.0.0"
])

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Step 5: Verify Tracking

  1. Run your app in the simulator or on a device
  2. Go to your DATALYR dashboard
  3. Click Events in the sidebar
  4. You should see an app_opened event within 10 seconds
If you see events, you’re done!

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What Gets Tracked Automatically

When enableAutoEvents is enabled (default: true):
  • app_install - First app open
  • app_open - App launches
  • app_background - App enters background
  • app_foreground - App returns to foreground
  • app_update - App version changes
  • session_start - New session begins
  • session_end - Session expires

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Track Custom Events

Track any custom event with optional properties: 
// Simple event
await DatalyrSDK.shared.track("Button Clicked")

// Event with properties
await DatalyrSDK.shared.track("Product Viewed", eventData: [
    "product_id": "SKU123",
    "product_name": "Premium Subscription",
    "price": 49.99,
    "currency": "USD",
    "category": "Subscriptions"
])

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Track Purchases

Track purchase events with revenue: 
// Simple purchase (automatically updates SKAdNetwork conversion value)
await DatalyrSDK.shared.trackPurchase(
    value: 99.99,
    currency: "USD",
    productId: "premium_subscription"
)

// Detailed purchase event
await DatalyrSDK.shared.track("Purchase Completed", eventData: [
    "order_id": "ORDER123",
    "amount": 149.99,
    "currency": "USD",
    "products": [
        ["id": "SKU1", "name": "Product 1", "price": 99.99],
        ["id": "SKU2", "name": "Product 2", "price": 50.00]
    ],
    "tax": 12.50,
    "shipping": 5.00
])

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Track Subscriptions

Track subscription events for IAP subscriptions: 
await DatalyrSDK.shared.trackSubscription(
    value: 9.99,
    currency: "USD",
    plan: "monthly_pro"
)

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Identify Users

Identify users after signup or login for cross-device attribution: 
await DatalyrSDK.shared.identify("user_123", properties: [
    "email": "[email protected]",
    "name": "John Doe",
    "plan": "premium",
    "created_at": "2025-09-29"
])

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Track Screen Views

Track screen or view controller views: 
// SwiftUI
.onAppear {
    Task {
        await DatalyrSDK.shared.screen("Product Details", properties: [
            "product_id": "SKU123",
            "category": "Electronics"
        ])
    }
}

// UIKit
override func viewDidAppear(_ animated: Bool) {
    super.viewDidAppear(animated)

    Task {
        await DatalyrSDK.shared.screen("Product Details", properties: [
            "product_id": "SKU123"
        ])
    }
}

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SKAdNetwork Support (iOS 14+)

Enable SKAdNetwork conversion value tracking: 
let config = DatalyrConfig(
    apiKey: "dk_your_api_key",
    skadTemplate: "ecommerce" // or "gaming", "subscription"
)

try await DatalyrSDK.shared.initialize(config: config)

// Events automatically update conversion values
await DatalyrSDK.shared.trackPurchase(value: 99.99, currency: "USD")

// Check conversion value (for testing)
let value = DatalyrSDK.shared.getConversionValue(
    for: "purchase",
    properties: ["revenue": 75.00]
)
print("Conversion value: \(value ?? 0)") // 0-63

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SKAdNetwork Templates

Choose a template based on your business model:
  • ecommerce: Purchase events, revenue ranges
  • gaming: Level completion, in-app purchases, retention
  • subscription: Trial starts, conversions, renewals

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Identity Resolution

The SDK includes persistent anonymous IDs for complete user journey tracking: 
// Get anonymous ID (persists across app sessions)
let anonymousId = DatalyrSDK.shared.getAnonymousId()

// Pass to your backend for attribution preservation
var request = URLRequest(url: URL(string: "https://api.example.com/purchase")!)
request.httpBody = try? JSONSerialization.data(withJSONObject: [
    "items": cartItems,
    "anonymous_id": anonymousId  // Links server events to mobile events
])

// Identity is automatically linked when you identify a user
await DatalyrSDK.shared.identify("user_123", properties: [
    "email": "[email protected]"
])
This creates a link between your mobile app events and server-side events, preserving attribution from ad click to purchase.

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Attribution Tracking

The SDK automatically tracks:
  • Deep links and Universal Links
  • UTM parameters
  • Platform click IDs (fbclid, gclid, ttclid)
  • Install referrer
  • Campaign data
Get attribution data: 
let attribution = DatalyrSDK.shared.getAttributionData()
print(attribution.campaign)
print(attribution.source)
print(attribution.medium)

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Session Management

Sessions are automatically tracked with a 30-minute timeout: 
// Get current session
let session = DatalyrSDK.shared.getCurrentSession()

// Manually end session
await DatalyrSDK.shared.endSession()

// Reset user (logout)
await DatalyrSDK.shared.reset()
Track deep link opens: 
// SwiftUI
.onOpenURL { url in
    Task {
        await DatalyrSDK.shared.track("Deep Link Opened", eventData: [
            "url": url.absoluteString,
            "scheme": url.scheme ?? "",
            "host": url.host ?? ""
        ])
    }
}

// UIKit
func application(
    _ app: UIApplication,
    open url: URL,
    options: [UIApplication.OpenURLOptionsKey: Any] = [:]
) -> Bool {
    Task {
        await DatalyrSDK.shared.track("Deep Link Opened", eventData: [
            "url": url.absoluteString
        ])
    }
    return true
}

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Offline Support

Events are automatically queued when offline and sent when connection is restored: 
// Manually flush queue
await DatalyrSDK.shared.flush()

// Check queue status
let status = DatalyrSDK.shared.getStatus()
print("Queue size: \(status.queueStats.queueSize)")
print("Is online: \(status.queueStats.isOnline)")

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Debug Mode

Enable debug logging during development: 
let config = DatalyrConfig(
    apiKey: "dk_your_api_key",
    debug: true // Enable console logs
)
Debug output includes:
  • Event tracking logs
  • Network requests
  • Queue operations
  • Attribution updates
  • Error messages

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Privacy & Compliance

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App Tracking Transparency (iOS 14.5+)

Request tracking permission: 
import AppTrackingTransparency

ATTrackingManager.requestTrackingAuthorization { status in
    Task {
        await DatalyrSDK.shared.track("ATT Status", eventData: [
            "status": status.rawValue
        ])
    }
}
Handle user consent for tracking: 
// Track consent
await DatalyrSDK.shared.track("Consent Updated", eventData: [
    "tracking_allowed": false,
    "gdpr_consent": false
])

// Disable tracking
await DatalyrSDK.shared.reset()

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Configuration Options

let config = DatalyrConfig(
    apiKey: "dk_your_api_key",        // Required
    debug: false,                      // Enable logging
    enableAutoEvents: true,            // Track lifecycle events
    enableAttribution: true,           // Track attribution data
    skadTemplate: "ecommerce",         // SKAdNetwork template
    maxRetries: 3,                     // Retry failed requests
    retryDelay: 1.0,                   // Seconds between retries
    timeout: 15.0,                     // Request timeout
    batchSize: 10,                     // Events per batch
    flushInterval: 10.0,               // Seconds between flushes
    maxQueueSize: 100                  // Max queued events
)

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Troubleshooting

Events not appearing?
  1. Check API key is correct (starts with dk_)
  2. Enable debug mode to see logs
  3. Verify network connectivity
  4. Check getStatus() for queue info
  5. Call flush() to force send events
Build errors? 
# Clean build folder
cmd+shift+k in Xcode

# Reset package caches
File → Packages → Reset Package Caches

# Update packages
File → Packages → Update to Latest Package Versions
Authentication errors? SKAdNetwork not working? Ensure you’ve added SKAdNetwork IDs to your Info.plist. Contact support for the list of network IDs to add.

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Next Steps

Verify Tracking

Confirm events are coming through

Track Custom Events

Learn the full event tracking API

Connect Integrations

Link Meta, Google, TikTok Ads

View Dashboard

See your tracking data

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Need Help?

Having issues with iOS tracking? Check our troubleshooting guide or contact support.