3.1 How Analytics works
How Analytics works
How Analytics works
Analytics Training
Analytics Training
Notes
Notes
There are four main components to the Analytics system: data collection, configuration, data processing and reporting.
There are four main components to the Analytics system: data collection, configuration, data processing and reporting.
Collection:
Collection:
You can use Analytics to collect user interaction data from websites, mobile apps, and digitally connected environments like kiosks or point of sale systems. For websites, Analytics uses JavaScript code to collect information. One package of information is referred to as a “hit” or an “interaction.” A “hit” is sent every time a user views a page tagged with Analytics.
You can use Analytics to collect user interaction data from websites, mobile apps, and digitally connected environments like kiosks or point of sale systems. For websites, Analytics uses JavaScript code to collect information. One package of information is referred to as a “hit” or an “interaction.” A “hit” is sent every time a user views a page tagged with Analytics.
For mobile apps, you must add extra code to each "activity" you want to track. Note that since mobile devices are not always connected to the internet, data can not always be sent to the collection server in real time. To handle this situation, Analytics can store the “hits” and dispatch them to the server when the device reconnects to the internet.
For mobile apps, you must add extra code to each "activity" you want to track. Note that since mobile devices are not always connected to the internet, data can not always be sent to the collection server in real time. To handle this situation, Analytics can store the “hits” and dispatch them to the server when the device reconnects to the internet.
Processing:
Processing:
Once the hits from a user have been collected on Google’s servers, the next step is data processing. This is the “transformation” step that turns your raw data to something useful.
Once the hits from a user have been collected on Google’s servers, the next step is data processing. This is the “transformation” step that turns your raw data to something useful.
Configuration:
Configuration:
In this step, Analytics applies your configuration settings, such as filters, to the raw data. Once your data is processed, the data is stored in a database. Once the data has been processed and inserted into the database, it can’t be changed.
In this step, Analytics applies your configuration settings, such as filters, to the raw data. Once your data is processed, the data is stored in a database. Once the data has been processed and inserted into the database, it can’t be changed.
Reporting:
Reporting:
Typically, you will use the web interface at www.google.com/analytics to access your data. However, it is also possibly to systematically retrieve data from your Analytics account using your own application code and the Core Reporting API.
Typically, you will use the web interface at www.google.com/analytics to access your data. However, it is also possibly to systematically retrieve data from your Analytics account using your own application code and the Core Reporting API.
Platform components
Platform components
Developers interact and influence processing through a rich user interface, client libraries, and APIs that are organized into 4 main components: collection, configuration, processing, and reporting.
Collection
collects user-interaction data.
Configuration
allows you to manage how the data is processed.
Processing
processes the user-interaction data, with the configuration data.
Reporting
provides access to all the processed data.