Hotjar Detector

How can you detect if a website uses Hotjar?

Detecting whether a website uses Hotjar can be accomplished by examining the page source for specific indicators that are characteristic of Hotjar’s implementation.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

1. Open the Page Source: Right-click on the webpage and select “View Page Source” or press Ctrl+U (Windows) or Cmd+Option+U (Mac) to open the page’s source code.
2. Search for Hotjar Scripts: Use Ctrl+F (Windows) or Cmd+F (Mac) to open the search function and look for the following keywords:
   • static.hotjar.com: This is a common script URL for Hotjar tracking. You might see something like <script src="https://static.hotjar.com/c/hotjar-XXXXXXXX.js"></script>
   • hotjar: This is another keyword to search for that could be part of Hotjar’s tracking scripts.
3. Look for Hotjar Initialization Code: After finding the Hotjar script, look for code that initializes Hotjar. This is typically in the form of a command such as window.hj=window.hj||function(){(hj.q=hj.q||[]).push(arguments)};
4. Check for Hotjar Tracking ID: In the Hotjar script, look for a unique identifier (numeric or alphanumeric) that represents the Hotjar site ID. You might see it as part of the script URL, such as hotjar-XXXXXXXX.
5. Inspect for Hotjar Reports or Feedback Tools: Sometimes, Hotjar is used for user feedback and heatmap tracking. Look for visible elements like the feedback polls or heatmap indicators on the webpage.
6. Using Developer Tools: You can also use browser Developer Tools to track network requests. Right-click on the page, select “Inspect” or press F12 (Windows) or Cmd+Option+I (Mac). Navigate to the “Network” tab, reload the page, and filter by “JS” or search for “hotjar” to see if any Hotjar-related scripts are being loaded.