Ask HN: How does my email tracking service know WHO opened my email?

  • Your email client sent three emails, with different "hidden image file" urls.

    The cheesiest version just makes the image url be something like:

    https://example.com/trackingpixel.png?email=dhbanes%40exampl...

    and rewrites that query parameter for each of the To: Cc: and Bcc: addresses.

    A real implementation will more likely use a UUID instead of just plonking the email address in there, and store that uuid -> email mapping sevrerside.

  • Each one gets a different image in the email, when they open the email it fetches the image, so the tracking service knows they opened the email.

    The image is usually a 1px by 1px transparent png at the end of the email