Edge segmentation guide

Last update: 2025-04-01
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Edge segmentation is the ability to evaluate segment definitions in Adobe Experience Platform instantaneously on the edge, enabling same page and next page personalization use cases.

IMPORTANT

The edge data will be stored in an edge server location closest to where it was collected. This data may also be stored in a location other than the one designated as the hub (or principal) Adobe Experience Platform data center.

Additionally, the edge segmentation engine will only honor requests on the edge where there is one primary marked identity, which is consistent with non-edge-based primary identities.

Edge segmentation query types

A query can be evaluated with edge segmentation if it meets any of the criteria outlined in the following table.

NOTE

If the query matches any of the query types in the following table, it will automatically be evaluated using edge segmentation. The system determines this ability automatically based on the query expression.

Query type Details Query Example
Single event within a time window of less than 24 hours Any segment definition that refers to a single incoming event within a time window of less than 24 hours. CHAIN(xEvent, timestamp, [C0: WHAT(eventType.equals("commerce.checkouts", false)) WHEN(today)]) An example of a single event within a relative time window is shown.
Profile only Any segment definition that refers to only a profile attribute. homeAddress.country.equals("US", false) An example of a profile attribute shown.
Single event with a profile attribute within a relative time window of less than 24 hours Any segment definition that refers to a single incoming event, with one or more profile attributes, and occurs within a relative time window of less than 24 hours. workAddress.country.equals("US", false) and CHAIN(xEvent, timestamp, [C0: WHAT(eventType.equals("commerce.checkouts", false)) WHEN(today)]) An example of a single event with a profile attribute within a relative time window is shown.
Segment of segments Any segment definition that contains one or more batch or edge segments. Note: If a segment of segments is used, profile disqualification will happen every 24 hours. inSegment("a730ed3f-119c-415b-a4ac-27c396ae2dff") and inSegment("8fbbe169-2da6-4c9d-a332-b6a6ecf559b9") An example of a segment of segments is shown.
Multiple events with a profile attribute Any segment definition that refers to multiple events within the last 24 hours and (optionally) has one or more profile attributes. workAddress.country.equals("US", false) and CHAIN(xEvent, timestamp, [C0: WHAT(eventType.equals("directMarketing.emailClicked", false)) WHEN(today), C1: WHAT(eventType.equals("commerce.checkouts", false)) WHEN(today)]) An example of multiple events with a profile attribute is shown.

Additionally, the segment definition must be tied to a merge policy that is active on edge. For more information about merge policies, please read the merge policies guide.

A segment definition will not be eligible for edge segmentation in the following scenario:

  • The segment definition includes a combination of a single event and an inSegment event.
    • However, if the segment definition contained in the inSegment event is profile only, the segment definition will be enabled for edge segmentation.
  • The segment definition uses “Ignore year” as part of its time constraints.

Create audience

You can create an audience that is evaluated using edge segmentation using either the Segmentation Service API or through Audience Portal in the UI.

A segment definition can be edge-enabled if it matches one of the eligible query types.

API format

POST /segment/definitions

Request

 A sample request to create a segment definition that is enabled for edge segmentation
curl -X POST https://platform.adobe.io/data/core/ups/segment/definitions
 -H 'Authorization: Bearer {ACCESS_TOKEN}' \
 -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
 -H 'x-gw-ims-org-id: {ORG_ID}' \
 -H 'x-api-key: {API_KEY}' \
 -H 'x-sandbox-name: {SANDBOX_NAME}'
 -d '{
        "name": "People in the USA",
        "description: "An audience that looks for people who live in the USA",
        "expression": {
            "type": "PQL",
            "format": "pql/text",
            "value": "homeAddress.country = \"US\""
        },
        "evaluationInfo": {
            "batch": {
                "enabled": false
            },
            "continuous": {
                "enabled": false
            },
            "synchronous": {
                "enabled": true
            }
        },
        "schema": {
            "name": "_xdm.context.profile"
        }
     }'

Response

A successful response returns HTTP status 200 with details of your newly created segment definition.

 A sample response when creating a segment definition.
{
    "id": "4afe34ae-8c98-4513-8a1d-67ccaa54bc05",
    "schema": {
        "name": "_xdm.context.profile"
    },
    "profileInstanceId": "ups",
    "imsOrgId": "{ORG_ID}",
    "sandbox": {
        "sandboxId": "28e74200-e3de-11e9-8f5d-7f27416c5f0d",
        "sandboxName": "prod",
        "type": "production",
        "default": true
    },
    "name": "People in the USA",
    "description": "An audience that looks for people who live in the USA",
    "expression": {
        "type": "PQL",
        "format": "pql/text",
        "value": "homeAddress.country = \"US\""
    },
    "evaluationInfo": {
        "batch": {
            "enabled": false
        },
        "continuous": {
            "enabled": false
        },
        "synchronous": {
            "enabled": true
        }
    },
    "dataGovernancePolicy": {
        "excludeOptOut": true
    },
    "creationTime": 0,
    "updateEpoch": 1579292094,
    "updateTime": 1579292094000
}

More information about using this endpoint can be found in the segment definition endpoint guide.

In Audience Portal, select Create audience.

The Create audience button is highlighted in Audience Portal.

A popover appears. Select Build rules to enter Segment Builder.

The Build rules button is highlighted in the create audience popover.

Within Segment Builder, create a segment definition that matches one of the eligible query types. If the segment definition qualifies for edge segmentation, you’ll be able to select Edge as the Evaluation method.

The segment definition is displayed. The evaluation type is highlighted, showing the segment definition can be evaluated using edge segmentation.

To learn more about creating segment definitions, please read the Segment Builder guide

Retrieve audiences evaluated using edge segmentation

You can retrieve all audiences that are evaluated using edge segmentation using either the Segmentation Service API or through Audience Portal in the UI.

Retrieve a list of all segment definitions that are evaluated using edge segmentation within your organization by making a GET request to the /segment/definitions endpoint.

API format

You must include the query parameter evaluationInfo.synchronous.enabled=true in the request path to retrieve segment definitions evaluated using edge segmentation.

GET /segment/definitions?evaluationInfo.synchronous.enabled=true

Request

 A sample request to list all the edge-enabled segment definitions
curl -X GET \
  'https://platform.adobe.io/data/core/ups/segment/definitions?evaluationInfo.synchronous.enabled=true' \
  -H 'Authorization: Bearer {ACCESS_TOKEN}' \
  -H 'x-api-key: {API_KEY}' \
  -H 'x-gw-ims-org-id: {ORG_ID}' \
  -H 'x-sandbox-name: {SANDBOX_NAME}'

Response

A successful response returns HTTP status 200 with an array of segment definitions in your organization that are enabled for edge segmentation.

 A sample response that contains a list of all edge-segmentation-enabled segment definitions in your organization
{
    "segments": [
        {
            "id": "15063cb-2da8-4851-a2e2-bf59ddd2f004",
            "schema": {
                "name": "_xdm.context.profile"
            },
            "imsOrgId": "{ORG_ID}",
            "sandbox": {
                "sandboxId": "",
                "sandboxName": "",
                "type": "production",
                "default": true
            },
            "name": " People who are NOT on their homepage ",
            "expression": {
                "type": "PQL",
                "format": "pql/text",
                "value": "select var1 from xEvent where var1._experience.analytics.endUser.firstWeb.webPageDetails.isHomePage = false"
            },
            "evaluationInfo": {
                "batch": {
                    "enabled": false
                },
                "continuous": {
                    "enabled": false
                },
                "synchronous": {
                    "enabled": true
                }
            },
            "creationTime": 1572029711000,
            "updateEpoch": 1572029712000,
            "updateTime": 1572029712000
        },
        {
            "id": "f15063cb-2da8-4851-a2e2-bf59ddd2f004",
            "schema": {
                "name": "_xdm.context.profile"
            },
            "imsOrgId": "{ORG_ID}",
            "sandbox": {
                "sandboxId": "",
                "sandboxName": "",
                "type": "production",
                "default": true
            },
            "name": "Homepage_continuous",
            "description": "People who are on their homepage - continuous",
            "expression": {
                "type": "PQL",
                "format": "pql/text",
                "value": "select var1 from xEvent where var1._experience.analytics.endUser.firstWeb.webPageDetails.isHomePage = true"
            },
            "evaluationInfo": {
                "batch": {
                    "enabled": false
                },
                "continuous": {
                    "enabled": false
                },
                "synchronous": {
                    "enabled": true
                }
            },
            "creationTime": 1572021085000,
            "updateEpoch": 1572021086000,
            "updateTime": 1572021086000
        }
    ],
    "page": {
        "totalCount": 2,
        "totalPages": 1,
        "sortField": "creationTime",
        "sort": "desc",
        "pageSize": 2,
        "limit": 100
    },
    "link": {}
}

More detailed information about the segment definition returned can be found in the segment definitions endpoint guide.

You can retrieve all the audiences that are enabled for edge segmentation within your organization by using filters in Audience Portal. Select the filter icon icon to display the list of filters.

The filter icon is highlighted in Audience Portal.

Within the available filters, go to Update frequency and select “Edge”. Using this filter displays all audiences in your organization that are evaluated using edge segmentation.

The Edge update frequency is selected, displaying all audiences in the organization that are evaluated using edge segmentation.

To learn more about viewing audiences in Experience Platform, please read the Audience Portal guide.

Audience details

You can view details of a specific audience evaluated using edge segmentation by selecting it within Audience Portal.

After selecting an audience on Audience Portal, the audience details page appears. This displays information about the audience, including a summary of the audience details, the amount of qualified profiles over time, as well as the destinations the audience has been activated to.

The audience details page is displayed for an audience evaluated using edge segmentation.

For edge-enabled audiences, the Profiles over time card is displayed, which shows the total qualified and the nwe audience updated metrics.

The Total qualified metric represents the total number of qualified audiences, based on edge evaluations for this audience.

The New audience updated metric is represented by a line graph that shows the change in audience size through edge segmentation. You can adjust the dropdown to show the last 24 hours, last week, or last 30 days.

The Profiles over time card is highlighted.

For more details on audience details, please read the Audience Portal overview.

Next steps

This guide explains what edge segmentation is, as well as how to create a segment definition that can be evaluated using edge segmentation on Adobe Experience Platform.

To learn more about using the Experience Platform user interface, please read the Segmentation user guide.

For frequently asked questions about edge segmentation, please read the edge segmentation section of the FAQ.

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