Trigger
01 Definition
Trigger meaning: A rule in a tag manager that decides when a tag should fire.
A trigger listens for events such as page loads, clicks, form submissions, or custom events, then tells a tag to fire when its conditions are met. In Google Tag Manager, every tag needs at least one trigger. You can also add exceptions that block a tag in specific cases.
Why it matters
How Trigger fits the work
Triggers control the timing and precision of your tracking, so getting them right is what keeps tags from firing too often, too rarely, or on the wrong pages.
In context
A trigger set to fire on clicks of the Add to Cart button tells the cart event tag to send data only when a shopper adds a product.
Practical note
Test triggers in preview mode with real interactions. Click and form triggers can misfire if page elements change, and overly loose conditions may double count a single action.