A trackback is a manual notification system in WordPress, similar to pingbacks but requiring more user intervention. Key aspects of trackbacks include:

Functionality:

  • Manually initiated by the linking site
  • Sends an excerpt of the content along with the notification
  • Appears as a comment on the linked post if approved

Purpose:

  • Notifies other blogs of references to their content
  • Allows for cross-blog discussions and engagement
  • Provides context through the included excerpt

Process:

  1. Author finds the trackback URL on the post they want to reference
  2. Author adds the trackback URL to their post before publishing
  3. Upon publication, a trackback is sent to the referenced site
  4. The receiving site can choose to display the trackback as a comment

Management:

  • Trackbacks can be enabled or disabled in the Discussion settings
  • Individual posts can have trackbacks turned on or off
  • Trackbacks require manual approval to prevent spam

While both pingbacks and trackbacks serve similar purposes, pingbacks are generally considered more secure and less prone to spam due to their automated verification process. Many WordPress users now prefer pingbacks or disable both features to reduce spam and streamline comment management.