Setting up the server to support Safari

To enhance data collection and ad targeting in the Safari browser, set up the _ym_uid cookie update on the server. This type of cookie helps to identify your site users.

Cookie update logic

If a Cookie request header contains _ym_uid, the server must send Set-Cookie with the same value (_ym_uid) and set its expiration to 1 year.

The same goes for _ym_d, which contains the _ym_uid creation time.

Instructions for nginx server

First, edit the nginx configuration file.

sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/default

Simple approach

Add the following code to each location block (anywhere within the block):

# Update Yandex Metrica cookies

if ($cookie__ym_uid) {
    set $ym_postfix "Max-Age=31536000;Secure;Path=/;Domain=.$host";

    add_header Set-Cookie "_ym_uid=$cookie__ym_uid;$ym_postfix";
    add_header Set-Cookie "_ym_d=$cookie__ym_d;$ym_postfix";
    add_header Set-Cookie "_ym_ucs=nginx;$ym_postfix";
}

Advanced approach

1. Install the lua module for nginx.

   sudo apt install libnginx-mod-http-lua
   

2. Add the following code to each server block (anywhere within the block):

   Note

   If your service does not use the HTTPS protocol, remove the Secure; parameter from the header.

   If your service uses subdomains, use the root domain enclosed in quotes instead of the ngx.var.host variable (e.g., example.com for the sales.example.com site).

   # Update Yandex Metrica cookies
   
   header_filter_by_lua_block {
       if ngx.var.cookie__ym_uid and ngx.var.host then
           local ym_postfix = "Max-Age=31536000; Secure; Path=/; Domain=." .. ngx.var.host
   
           ngx.header["Set-Cookie"] = {
               "_ym_uid=" .. ngx.var.cookie__ym_uid .. "; " .. ym_postfix,
               "_ym_d=" .. (ngx.var.cookie__ym_d or "") .. "; " .. ym_postfix,
               "_ym_ucs=nginx; " .. ym_postfix
           }
       end
   }
   

Final steps

Test the new configuration:

sudo nginx -t

Once the test is successful, apply the nginx configuration:

sudo service nginx reload

To check whether the server is configured correctly:

1. Open your website in Safari browser.
2. In the menu, select Safari → Settings.
3. In the Advanced tab, check the Show features for web developers box.
4. Use the Cmd+Opt+I hotkey to switch to the developer mode and refresh the page.
5. In the developer mode, select Network in the menu.
6. Find the first request and check that the header is present in the Response field.

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