Web counter: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|Web page hit count indicator}} |
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{{refimprove|date=November 2008}} |
{{refimprove|date=November 2008}} |
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{{For|information on counting visits to a Wikipedia page|Wikipedia:FAQ/Technical#Can_I_add_a_page_hit_counter_to_a_Wikipedia_page?{{!}}Wikipedia FAQ (Can I add a page hit counter to a Wikipedia page?)}} |
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[[File:WebCounter.png|right|a webmaster's counter options|thumb]] |
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A '''web counter''' or '''hit counter''' is a |
A '''web counter''' or '''hit counter''' is a publicly displayed running tally of the number of visits a [[webpage]] has received. |
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Web counters are usually displayed as an [[digital image|inline digital image]] or in [[plain text]]. [[Rendering (computer graphics)|Image rendering]] of digits may use a variety of [[fonts]] and styles, with a classic design imitating the wheels of an [[odometer]]. Web counters were often accompanied by the date it was set up or last reset, to provide more context to readers on how to interpret the number shown. Although initially a way to publicly showcase a site's popularity to its visitors, some early web counters were simply [[web bug]]s used by [[webmaster]]s to track hits and included no visible on-page elements. |
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Counters were popular in the 1990s, but were later replaced by other [[web traffic]] measures such as self-hosted scripts like [[Analog (program)|Analog]], and later on by remote systems that used [[JavaScript]], like [[Google Analytics]]. These systems typically do not include on-page elements displaying the count. Thus, seeing a web counter on a modern web page is one example of [[retrocomputing]] on the Internet. |
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''Web counter'' was popular in the 1980s{{Dubious|date=October 2013}} and 1990's, later replaced by more util and complete [[web traffic]] measures. |
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Owing to their ubiquity, hit counters were also a useful tool to collect data on the global [[usage share of web browsers]] for a time. |
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== Counter schemes== |
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In one of the more recent [[Search engine optimization|SEO]] spamming techniques, companies pay to have their site listed in the html code of a free hit counter. Thus when a user puts it on their page, a small link will appear at the bottom and can be a quick way for sites to accumulate inbound links. This is often performed by sites in very competitive web fields like online gambling and even asbestos litigation. |
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In 2008, [[Google]] removed a number of high ranking mesothelioma sites that had been using counters from the top results.<ref>[http://www.stonetemple.com/articles/interview-matt-cutts-061608.shtml Matt Cutts interviewed by Eric Enge June 16, 2008]</ref> |
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== Counter SEO schemes == |
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Some websites have been known to offer prizes to the visitor who makes the web counter roll over to a specific number. Such an event is known in Japanese as a '''kiriban'''. |
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In one [[Search engine optimization|SEO]] spamming technique, companies paid to have their site listed in the HTML code of a free hit counter. When a webmaster put it on their page, a small link appeared at the bottom, providing a way for sites to artificially accumulate inbound links. This was often done by sites in very competitive industries like online gambling. In 2008, [[Google]] removed a number of high-ranking [[mesothelioma]] sites that had been using counters from the top results.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://blogs.perficient.com/2008/06/16/matt-cutts-interviewed-by-eric-enge/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080722162925/http://www.stonetemple.com/articles/interview-matt-cutts-061608.shtml |title=Matt Cutts Interviewed by Eric Enge |date=June 16, 2008 |archive-date=July 22, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{fv|date=February 2022|reason=The interview identifies links to "mesothelioma, payday loans site, or something like that" hidden in a web counter as an example of "widgetbait" link spam but says nothing about any removals.}} |
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== References == |
== References == |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
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Latest revision as of 12:57, 26 February 2023
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2008) |
A web counter or hit counter is a publicly displayed running tally of the number of visits a webpage has received.
Web counters are usually displayed as an inline digital image or in plain text. Image rendering of digits may use a variety of fonts and styles, with a classic design imitating the wheels of an odometer. Web counters were often accompanied by the date it was set up or last reset, to provide more context to readers on how to interpret the number shown. Although initially a way to publicly showcase a site's popularity to its visitors, some early web counters were simply web bugs used by webmasters to track hits and included no visible on-page elements.
Counters were popular in the 1990s, but were later replaced by other web traffic measures such as self-hosted scripts like Analog, and later on by remote systems that used JavaScript, like Google Analytics. These systems typically do not include on-page elements displaying the count. Thus, seeing a web counter on a modern web page is one example of retrocomputing on the Internet.
Owing to their ubiquity, hit counters were also a useful tool to collect data on the global usage share of web browsers for a time.
Counter SEO schemes
[edit]In one SEO spamming technique, companies paid to have their site listed in the HTML code of a free hit counter. When a webmaster put it on their page, a small link appeared at the bottom, providing a way for sites to artificially accumulate inbound links. This was often done by sites in very competitive industries like online gambling. In 2008, Google removed a number of high-ranking mesothelioma sites that had been using counters from the top results.[1][failed verification]
References
[edit]- ^ "Matt Cutts Interviewed by Eric Enge". June 16, 2008. Archived from the original on July 22, 2008.
