About data sources

A data sources represents a digital property that sends data to the Customer Data Hub. These systems include websites, mobile apps, or any custom application that generates visitor event data.

Examples of data source platforms:

• iQ Tag Management (websites)
• iOS (native mobile)
• Android (native mobile)
• HTTP API
• Apple TV
• Roku
• Python
• Java
• File Import

Each data source has the following properties:

• Name
  A name for the data source. For example: “US Mobile (iOS)”
• Description
  A short description of the data source.
• Platform
  The platform type, such as “iOS”.
• Data source key
  The unique key used to install the data source. For example: “abc123”
• Event specifications
  The event specifications associated with the data source. For example, a data source created for an e-commerce website might include event specifications for product_view, cart_add, search, and purchase.

How it works

Data sources are used to identify and keep track of the applications that send data to your Tealium account. Before you install Tealium in a new application or website, create a data source for it.

When you create a data source, a unique value called a data source key is generated. You will use the data source key in the installation code to match to the data source in your account.

After you create a data source and the code is installed with the data source key, use Live Events to identify events being sent from that data source. In Live Events you can inspect and validate incoming events.

Import offline data

Tealium supports several methods to import offline data into Tealium for enrichment and activation. Depending on your business case, your development support, and your import needs, you can select one of the following:

• File Import
  For customers that have development support to compile offline data into CSVs.
• Data Connect
  For customers that want a low-code solution to ingest data.
• Tealium Collect API endpoint
  For customers that have resources for development. Tealium Support recommended.

The following table summarizes the basic differences between the three import options.