How Google Analytics works - Analytics Help (2024)

Analytics Help

Sign in

Google Help

Send feedback on...

  • Help Center
  • Community
  • Announcements

Analytics Contact us

  • Analytics for beginners

    The value of digital analyticsHow Google Analytics 4 worksHow Google Analytics is organizedStructure your Analytics accountSet up Analytics for a website and/or appSet up data collection for an appConfirm data is being collected in AnalyticsHow to navigate AnalyticsAbout eventsSet up and manage conversion eventsGet started with reportsLink Google Ads and AnalyticsGet started with AdvertisingGoogle Analytics 4 training and support

  • Migrate from UA to GA4

    Introducing Google Analytics 4 (GA4)Universal Analytics versus Google Analytics 4 dataHow to check property typeAbout connected site tagsMake the switch to Google Analytics 4 (Migration guide)Common mistakes with tag setupConfirm data is being collected in AnalyticsSet up data collection for an appHow to navigate AnalyticsEvents in Google Analytics 4 vs Universal AnalyticsGoogle Analytics 4 training and support

  • Manage accounts, properties, and users

    How Google Analytics is organizedCreate an organizationSwitch between accounts and propertiesStructure your Analytics accountEdit / delete accounts, properties, and data streamsMove a propertyDelete / restore accounts and propertiesAccess and data-restriction managementAdd, edit, and delete users and user groupsUniversal Analytics view-related features in Google Analytics 4 propertiesView the history of account/property changes

  • Manage data

    About eventsUniversal Analytics versus Google Analytics 4 dataMonitor events in debug modeAbout modeled conversionsSet up and manage conversion eventsSet up cross-domain measurementIdentify unwanted referralsFilter, report on, or restrict access to data subsetsData retentionData-deletion requestsAbout Data Import

  • Understand reports

    Get started with reportsData freshnessGet started with ExplorationsReporting identityAnalytics Insights

  • Google Ads and attribution

    Link Google Ads and AnalyticsAdvertising snapshot reportGet started with AdvertisingAbout attribution and attribution modelingSelect attribution settingsConversion paths reportModel comparison reportGoogle Ads links migration toolGoal and conversion migration guide

  • Audiences and remarketing

    Create, edit, and archive audiencesAudiences migration guideSuggested audiencesAudience triggersPredictive metricsPredictive audiencesEnable remarketing with Google Analytics dataActivate Google signals for Google Analytics 4 propertiesRemarketing lists for search ads

  • Integrations

    Link Google Ads and AnalyticsBigQuery Export integrationAnalytics Search Ads 360 integrationFirebase integrationSearch Console integrationGoogle Merchant Center integrationGoogle Ad Manager integrationSalesforce Marketing Cloud reporting integration

Google Analytics is a platform that collects datafrom your websites and apps to create reports that provide insights into your business.

Measuring a website

To measure a website, you first have to create a Google Analytics account. Then you need to add a small piece of JavaScript measurement code to each page on your site. Every time a user visits a webpage, the tracking code will collect pseudonymous information about how that user interacted with the page.

For the Google Store, the measurement code could show how many users visited a page that sells drinkware versus a page that sells houseware. Or it could tell us how many users bought an item like an Android doll by tracking whether they made it to the purchase-confirmation page.

How Google Analytics works - Analytics Help (1)

The measurement code will also collect information from the browser like the language setting, the type of browser (such as Chrome or Safari), and the device and operating system on which the browser is running. It can even collect the “traffic source,” which is what brought users to the site in the first place. This might be a search engine, an advertisem*nt they clicked on, or an email marketing campaign.

Processing and reporting

When the measurement code collects data, it packages that information up and sends it to Google Analytics to be processed into reports. When Analytics processes data, it aggregates and organizes the data based on particular criteria like whether a user’s device is mobile or desktop, or which browser they’re using.

But there are also configuration settings that allow you to customize how that data is processed. For example, you might want to apply a filter to make sure your data doesn’t include any internal company traffic or developer traffic.

How Google Analytics works - Analytics Help (2)

Once Analytics processes the data, it’s stored in a database where it can’t be changed.

So remember, when you set up your configuration, don’t exclude any data you think you might want to analyze later. Once the data has been processed and stored in the database, it will appear in Google Analytics as reports.

Was this helpful?

How can we improve it?

Need more help?

Try these next steps:

Post to the help community Get answers from community members Contact us Tell us more and we’ll help you get there
How Google Analytics works - Analytics Help (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Jamar Nader

Last Updated:

Views: 5824

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (55 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Jamar Nader

Birthday: 1995-02-28

Address: Apt. 536 6162 Reichel Greens, Port Zackaryside, CT 22682-9804

Phone: +9958384818317

Job: IT Representative

Hobby: Scrapbooking, Hiking, Hunting, Kite flying, Blacksmithing, Video gaming, Foraging

Introduction: My name is Jamar Nader, I am a fine, shiny, colorful, bright, nice, perfect, curious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.