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Search Sentinel

Code Snippet Tracking

Monitor tracking codes, analytics snippets, and custom scripts with powerful regex pattern matching

What is Code Snippet Tracking?

Code snippet tracking allows you to monitor the presence or absence of specific code patterns on your web pages. Using regular expressions (regex), you can verify that critical tracking codes, analytics scripts, pixels, or custom implementations are present and functioning correctly.

This feature is essential for ensuring marketing pixels, analytics tags, chat widgets, and other third-party integrations remain active after website updates or deployments.

How It Works

1

Define Your Pattern

Create a regex pattern that matches the code snippet you want to monitor. For example, G-[A-Z0-9]{10} for Google Analytics 4 tags.

2

Set Expectations

Choose whether the snippet should be present or absent. Configure alerts to trigger when the pattern is found when it should not be, or missing when it should be there.

3

Monitor Automatically

Search Sentinel checks your pages on your configured schedule (hourly to monthly). The HTML source is scanned for your regex patterns.

4

Get Instant Alerts

Receive notifications via email, Slack, or Microsoft Teams immediately when a code snippet check fails, allowing you to fix issues before they impact your business.

Code snippet tracking interface showing regex patterns and monitoring settings

Common Use Cases

Analytics Tracking

Ensure Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or other analytics platforms remain properly installed after website updates. Missing analytics can lead to data gaps and incorrect business decisions.

Pattern: gtag\(\'config\',\s*\'G-[A-Z0-9]{10}\'

Advertising Pixels

Monitor Facebook Pixel, Google Ads conversion tracking, LinkedIn Insight Tag, and other advertising pixels. Broken pixels mean lost conversion data and wasted ad spend.

Pattern: fbq\(\'init\',\s*\'\d{15,16}\'

Chat Widgets & Support Tools

Verify that Intercom, Drift, Zendesk, or other customer support chat widgets are active. Missing widgets mean lost customer engagement opportunities.

Pattern: Intercom\(\'boot\',\s*\{

Security & Compliance Scripts

Monitor cookie consent banners, privacy policy scripts, or security badges. Ensure compliance-related code remains active to meet legal requirements.

Pattern: CookieConsent\.run\(

Configuration Options

Pattern Matching

Define your regex pattern with full JavaScript regex syntax support. Test your patterns before saving to ensure accuracy.

  • Case-sensitive or case-insensitive matching
  • Multiline pattern support
  • Capture groups and lookaheads
  • Pattern library for common tracking codes

Expected Behavior

Choose whether the pattern should be present or absent:

  • Should be present: Alert when pattern is not found
  • Should be absent: Alert when pattern is found

Multiple Patterns

Add multiple code snippet checks per URL. Monitor all your critical tracking codes, analytics, and third-party integrations in one place.

Alert Configuration

Set up instant notifications when code snippets fail validation:

  • Email alerts: Send to multiple recipients
  • Slack integration: Post to specific channels
  • Microsoft Teams: Notify your team workspace
  • Webhooks: Integrate with custom systems
  • Alert grouping: Combine multiple snippet failures into one notification
  • Quiet hours: Suppress alerts during maintenance windows

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to know regex to use this feature?

Basic regex knowledge is helpful, but we provide a pattern library with common tracking code patterns you can use immediately. You can also test patterns before saving them.

How many code snippets can I track per URL?

There is no hard limit. You can add as many code snippet patterns as needed per URL to monitor all your critical tracking codes.

Does this work with JavaScript-rendered content?

Yes. Search Sentinel renders JavaScript before checking for code snippets, so dynamically loaded scripts and content are properly monitored.

Can I monitor for the absence of malicious code?

Absolutely. Set a pattern to "should be absent" to get alerted if suspicious code or unauthorized scripts appear on your pages.

What happens if my pattern has a syntax error?

The pattern validator will catch syntax errors before you save. If a pattern becomes invalid, checks will be skipped and you will be notified.