Airship

Airship

Airship scripts register web push notification permissions in browsers, enabling websites to send push campaigns to opted-in visitors. Scripts load service workers to manage notification delivery and track engagement events such as notification opens and in-app message interactions.

Back to Vendor Library

Overview

Airship (formerly Urban Airship) is a customer engagement platform specializing in web and mobile push notifications, in-app messaging, and SMS campaigns. Its web scripts register browser push notification permissions, manage service worker installation for notification delivery, and track user engagement with messages across channels.

What This Script Does

Airship's web SDK performs several operations:

  • Push notification registration: Prompts the visitor to allow browser push notifications via the Web Push API. If granted, the browser's push subscription endpoint is registered with Airship's servers.
  • Service worker installation: Installs a service worker on the visitor's browser that handles incoming push notifications even when the website is not open. The service worker manages notification display, click handling, and engagement tracking.
  • Notification tracking: Tracks push notification delivery, display, click, and dismissal events. This engagement data is sent to Airship's analytics platform for campaign performance reporting.
  • In-app messaging: Renders in-app message overlays (banners, modals, full-screen messages) triggered by user behavior, segment membership, or campaign scheduling.
  • User identification: Associates the push subscription with a user identifier (anonymous or authenticated) to enable targeted messaging based on user segments, behavior, and preferences.
  • Cookies/storage: Uses localStorage or cookies to store the push subscription state, user identifier, and message display history.

Consent & Compliance

Airship operates in a mixed marketing/functional consent category. Push notifications can serve functional purposes (order updates, account alerts) but are primarily used for marketing re-engagement campaigns.

Under GDPR and ePrivacy, push notification opt-in involves two consent layers: the browser-level permission prompt and the ePrivacy/GDPR consent for the underlying data processing. The service worker installation and push subscription registration constitute accessing the user's device and require consent. Marketing push campaigns require explicit opt-in under ePrivacy.

Under CCPA/CPRA, the push subscription data and engagement tracking constitute personal information. Marketing push notifications constitute direct marketing that requires opt-out mechanisms.

Should You Block This Without Consent?

Conditional. If Airship is used solely for functional notifications (order status, security alerts), it can load after the user initiates the relevant action. However, for marketing push campaigns, block Airship's web SDK until the user grants marketing consent. The push permission prompt should only appear after marketing consent is obtained — combining the consent banner with a push prompt creates a confusing double-consent experience.

Visit website

Consent Categories

Marketing
Functional

Also Known As

airshipairship push notificationsurban airshipairship web pushairship service workerpush notification consent

Industries

Computers Electronics and Technology

Tracked Domains (1)

airship.comMarketing

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need consent to use Airship on my website?

Yes. Airship registers browser push notification subscriptions and installs a service worker for ongoing notification delivery. Push notification permission capture and engagement tracking constitute marketing processing under GDPR and ePrivacy, requiring explicit consent before the Airship SDK initializes.

What does Airship track on my website?

Airship installs a service worker that manages push notification delivery and tracks notification opens and dismissals. The SDK captures browser push subscription endpoints and transmits them to Airship servers. Engagement events — message opens, in-app interactions — are recorded and sent back to Airship for campaign analytics.

How does ConsentStack handle Airship?

ConsentStack classifies Airship as a marketing and functional vendor. Without consent, ConsentStack prevents the Airship SDK from loading, blocking service worker installation and push notification prompts. When marketing consent is granted, the SDK initializes and can request push permission from the visitor.

Related Vendors

Google Ads
Google Ads
Google Ads is Google's advertising platform for search, display, and remarketing campaigns. Conversion tracking scripts fire on advertiser landing pages to measure actions taken after ad clicks. The remarketing tag builds audience lists for retargeting users across Google's ad network.
Google
Google
Google is the dominant provider of web analytics, advertising, and infrastructure tools. Scripts like Google Analytics, Tag Manager, Ads, and reCAPTCHA collect behavioral data, manage tag firing, serve targeted ads, and detect bots. Sets persistent cookies to track users and correlate activity across sites.
Microsoft Dynamics 365
Microsoft Dynamics 365
Microsoft Dynamics 365 is a suite of CRM and ERP applications that integrates with websites through tracking scripts and embedded forms. Web tracking code captures visitor behavior, page views, and form submissions to build customer profiles and score leads. Sets cookies to identify returning visitors and attribute marketing touchpoints across sessions.
Microsoft
Microsoft
Runs Clarity (session recording and heatmaps), the Microsoft Advertising UET tag (conversion tracking), and Bing's remarketing pixel. Clarity injects a recording script that captures mouse movements, clicks, and rage clicks. The UET tag fires conversion events to tie ad clicks to on-site actions across Microsoft's ad network.
Microsoft Advertising UET Tag
Microsoft Advertising UET Tag
Microsoft Advertising UET Tag is the Universal Event Tracking pixel for Microsoft's ad platform, formerly Bing Ads. The JavaScript tag fires on advertiser websites to track page views, conversions, and custom events for campaign optimization. Sets cookies to identify visitors across sessions and attribute conversions to Microsoft Search and Audience Network ad clicks.
LinkedIn Ads
LinkedIn Ads
LinkedIn Ads is LinkedIn's advertising platform for B2B marketing and professional audience targeting. Conversion tracking scripts and pixels fire on advertiser websites to measure sign-ups, downloads, and purchases driven by LinkedIn ad campaigns. Sets cookies for audience matching, retargeting list building, and cross-device attribution reporting.

Manage consent for Airship

ConsentStack automatically detects and manages Airship trackers so your site stays compliant with global privacy regulations.

Get started