> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.wynta.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.wynta.com/knowledge-base/affiliate-platform/overview-and-key-concepts/core-concepts-and-terminology.md).

# Core Concepts & Terminology

Before diving into workflows, it's worth getting comfortable with the vocabulary used throughout the Affiliate Platform. These terms appear consistently across this Knowledge Base, the platform interface, and your reporting — understanding them now means nothing later needs re-explaining.

#### Affiliates & sub-affiliates

An affiliate is a partner who promotes your product or service in exchange for commission on the results they generate. Affiliates apply to join your program, get approved, and are given tracking links to use in their marketing.

A sub-affiliate is an affiliate recruited and managed by another affiliate, rather than directly by you. Sub-affiliate structures are common in networks and larger partner programs, where a lead affiliate builds their own roster of smaller partners underneath them. Commission can flow through multiple levels depending on how your program is configured.

#### Programs & campaigns

A program is the container that defines the rules a group of affiliates operates under — its commission structure, eligible offers, terms and conditions, and tracking settings. Most businesses run one core program, though larger operations may run several (for example, separate programs for different regions or products).

A campaign is a specific promotion or initiative within a program — for example, a limited-time bonus commission rate, or a push tied to a product launch. Campaigns inherit their parent program's settings unless specifically overridden.

#### Commission models (CPA, RevShare, Hybrid)

The Affiliate Platform supports three core commission models:

* CPA (Cost Per Acquisition) — a fixed amount paid per qualifying conversion (e.g., a new signup or first deposit), regardless of the customer's ongoing value.
* RevShare (Revenue Share) — a percentage of the revenue a referred customer generates, paid on an ongoing basis for as long as the customer remains active.
* Hybrid — a combination of the two, typically a smaller upfront CPA payment plus an ongoing, smaller revenue share.

Which model you choose shapes affiliate behavior — CPA incentivizes volume, RevShare incentivizes quality and retention. Most programs settle on one primary model with the option to negotiate custom terms for top-performing partners.

#### Tracking links

A tracking link is the unique URL an affiliate uses to drive traffic to you — it contains an identifier that lets the platform recognize which affiliate sent the visitor. Every click on a tracking link is logged, giving you a clear, ongoing record of where traffic originated.

#### Conversions & postbacks

A conversion is any action you've defined as valuable — a signup, a deposit, a purchase — that qualifies an affiliate for commission.

A postback (or server-to-server, S2S, notification) is how a conversion is confirmed on Wynta — your server communicates directly with the platform's servers to confirm the event happened. This is the platform's sole method for registering conversions, and is covered in full in A3.4 — Tracking Links & Postbacks.

#### Payment cycles & reporting

A payment cycle is the recurring schedule on which commission is calculated — commonly monthly, but configurable to your business's needs.

At the end of each cycle, Wynta generates a Payment Report showing exactly what each affiliate has earned and is owed. Wynta does not process payments itself — the report gives you everything you need to make the payment through whatever payment method your business uses. Most programs also set a minimum payout threshold, meaning an affiliate's balance must reach a certain amount before it appears as payable in the report. This is covered in full in A3.6 — Payment Reports & Cycles.

**Glossary quick-reference**

| Term           | Definition                                                                         |
| -------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Affiliate      | A partner who earns commission for referring customers                             |
| Sub-affiliate  | An affiliate recruited and managed by another affiliate                            |
| Program        | The rule set (commission, terms, tracking) a group of affiliates operates under    |
| Campaign       | A specific promotion within a program                                              |
| CPA            | Fixed commission per qualifying conversion                                         |
| RevShare       | Ongoing commission as a percentage of customer revenue                             |
| Hybrid         | Combined CPA + RevShare model                                                      |
| Tracking link  | Unique URL used to track traffic to an affiliate                                   |
| Conversion     | A defined valuable action (signup, deposit, purchase)                              |
| Postback       | Server-to-server conversion confirmation                                           |
| Payment cycle  | The recurring schedule commission is calculated on                                 |
| Payment Report | The report generated at the end of each cycle showing what every affiliate is owed |

Next step: Continue to **How Tracking Works** for a deeper look at how clicks and conversions are matched, or move ahead to A2.1 — Setting Up Your First Affiliate Program to start building.

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