# Cloudflare Zaraz

Expert guidance for Cloudflare Zaraz - server-side tag manager for loading third-party tools at the edge.

## What is Zaraz?

Zaraz offloads third-party scripts (analytics, ads, chat, marketing) to Cloudflare's edge, improving site speed, privacy, and security. Zero client-side performance impact.

**Core Concepts:**

- **Server-side execution** - Scripts run on Cloudflare, not user's browser
- **Single HTTP request** - All tools loaded via one endpoint
- **Privacy-first** - Control data sent to third parties
- **No client-side JS overhead** - Minimal browser impact

## Quick Start

1. Navigate to domain > Zaraz in Cloudflare dashboard
2. Click "Start setup"
3. Add tools (Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, etc.)
4. Configure triggers (when tools fire)
5. Add tracking code to your site:

```javascript
// Track page view
zaraz.track('page_view')

// Track custom event
zaraz.track('button_click', { button_id: 'cta' })

// Set user properties
zaraz.set('userId', 'user_123')
```

## When to Use Zaraz

**Use Zaraz when:**

- Adding multiple third-party tools (analytics, ads, marketing)
- Site performance is critical (no client-side JS overhead)
- Privacy compliance required (GDPR, CCPA)
- Non-technical teams need to manage tools

**Use Workers directly when:**

- Building custom server-side tracking logic
- Need full control over data processing
- Integrating with complex backend systems
- Zaraz's tool library doesn't meet needs

## In This Reference

| File                                   | Purpose                                | When to Read                     |
| -------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------- | -------------------------------- |
| [api.md](./api.md)                     | Web API, zaraz object, consent methods | Implementing tracking calls      |
| [configuration.md](./configuration.md) | Dashboard setup, triggers, tools       | Initial setup, adding tools      |
| [patterns.md](./patterns.md)           | SPA, e-commerce, Worker integration    | Best practices, common scenarios |
| [gotchas.md](./gotchas.md)             | Troubleshooting, limits, pitfalls      | Debugging issues                 |

## Reading Order by Task

| Task                  | Files to Read                             |
| --------------------- | ----------------------------------------- |
| Add analytics to site | README → configuration.md                 |
| Track custom events   | README → api.md                           |
| Debug tracking issues | gotchas.md                                |
| SPA tracking          | api.md → patterns.md (SPA section)        |
| E-commerce tracking   | api.md#ecommerce → patterns.md#ecommerce  |
| Worker integration    | patterns.md#worker-integration            |
| GDPR compliance       | api.md#consent → configuration.md#consent |

## Decision Tree

```
What do you need?

├─ Track events in browser → api.md
│   ├─ Page views, clicks → zaraz.track()
│   ├─ User properties → zaraz.set()
│   └─ E-commerce → zaraz.ecommerce()
│
├─ Configure Zaraz → configuration.md
│   ├─ Add GA4/Facebook → tools setup
│   ├─ When tools fire → triggers
│   └─ GDPR consent → consent purposes
│
├─ Integrate with Workers → patterns.md#worker-integration
│   ├─ Enrich context → Context Enrichers
│   └─ Inject tracking → HTML rewriting
│
└─ Debug issues → gotchas.md
    ├─ Events not firing → troubleshooting
    ├─ Consent issues → consent debugging
    └─ Performance → debugging tools
```

## Key Features

- **100+ Pre-built Tools** - GA4, Facebook, Google Ads, TikTok, etc.
- **Zero Client Impact** - Runs at Cloudflare's edge, not browser
- **Privacy Controls** - Consent management, data filtering
- **Custom Tools** - Build Managed Components for proprietary systems
- **Worker Integration** - Enrich context, compute dynamic values
- **Debug Mode** - Real-time event inspection

## Reference

- [Zaraz Docs](https://developers.cloudflare.com/zaraz/)
- [Web API](https://developers.cloudflare.com/zaraz/web-api/)
- [Managed Components](https://developers.cloudflare.com/zaraz/advanced/load-custom-managed-component/)

---

This skill focuses exclusively on Zaraz. For Workers development, see `cloudflare-workers` skill.
