Title: Site ID
Author: joshua
Published: May 7, 2024
Last modified: November 12, 2025

---

 1. [Installation resources](https://docs.parse.ly/installation-resources/)
 2. [Parse.ly Integration](https://docs.parse.ly/installation-resources/parsely-integration/)
 3. [Tracking code](https://docs.parse.ly/installation-resources/parsely-integration/tracking-code-setup/)
 4. Site ID

#  Site ID

Throughout the documentation, you’ll see references to the Parse.ly Site ID. Parse.
ly Support generates this value during the initial integration stage. Your technical
team will use this value when incorporating add-on features. This value will appear
at the [top of your dashboard](https://docs.parse.ly/api-top-10-endpoint/-bar/) 
and in your [reports](https://docs.parse.ly/reports/).

**Terminology**

Sometimes you might here us using the term “apikey”. This is synonymous with “Site
ID”. All customers have at least one Site ID/apikey, but not all customers have 
access to the Parse.ly API. The API is a premium add-on feature that also requires
an API Secret that is not visible to customers without API access.

## Format

Typically the production Site ID consists of the Domain name, e.g., `example.com`.
As for [Sandbox](https://docs.parse.ly/sandbox/) Site ID’s they often take one of
two forms:

 * `sandbox.example.com` if you only have a single production dashboard
 * `sandbox.publisher-name` if you have multiple production dashboards

![The structure of a url. The Parse.ly Site ID is usually the same as the Domain
name.](https://docs.parse.ly/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/05/url-structure.jpeg)

## Subdomains

### Consolidated tracking

Parse.ly automatically tracks the subdomains that belong to a given Site ID. So 
if you have content at `blog.example.com` then you would still use `example.com`
as the Site ID that you specify in the tracking code.

You would still be able to find your content performance in your dashboard through
a variety of ways:

 * [Open in Parse.ly bookmarklet](https://docs.parse.ly/open-in-parse-ly-bookmarklet/)
 * Browsing the dashboard by your provided [metadata](https://docs.parse.ly/metadata/#h-parse-ly-s-metadata-fields)
 * [Search](https://docs.parse.ly/using-search-find-posts/)

### Split tracking

Suppose your site has two, or more, subdomains that each have their own audience
and content strategy. It’s important to you that these be treated as separate entities.
In that case we can assign unique Site IDs. You would then have multiple dashboards—
each with its own users. And while the dashboards may be split, you can join them
together with the [Network Rollup or Site Group views](https://docs.parse.ly/network-rollup-site-groups/).

### Limitations

While you would have enhanced navigation and control with split tracking, you would
also face a couple of limitations.

 * [Overlay](https://docs.parse.ly/overlay/) does not track across Site IDs.
 * [API](https://docs.parse.ly/api/) results will be siloed within each Site ID (
   if purchased).

## Subdirectories

In the same way that we automatically track subdomains, we also automatically track
subdirectories. Another similarity is that you could split subdirectories into their
own dashboards if that is a requirement. We would format subdirectories as follows:`
www.example.com/subdirectory` would yield the Site ID of `subdirectory.example.com`.
The same advantages and disadvantages of split tracking apply.

If you track all of your subdirectories under a single Site ID (the default and 
recommended choice), then you can easily focus on each subdirectory with our [Path Filter](https://docs.parse.ly/using-dashboard-filters/#h-path-filter).

## Changing domains

With time, you may decide to rebrand your site and choose a new second-level domain(
SLD). An important thing to know is that Parse.ly does not track cross-domain by
default. So what are you to do? First, read [this primer](https://docs.parse.ly/preserve-integration/)
on migrations. Second, consider these two options:

### Hold on to your data

If you would like to be able to use your historical data (most people do) for trend
analysis, [comparison mode](https://docs.parse.ly/comparison-mode/), and more, then
this is the option for you. All you would need to do is tell us your new domain 
name and we will allow list this to your old Site ID. So, when your new sites starts
sending pageviews claiming it to be your old site, we’ll know it’s legitimate and
intentional.

### A fresh start

If you want to forget the past and never look at your old Site ID, that’s okay too.
We’ll issue a new ID and you’ll send your page views there.

Last updated: November 12, 2025