Google Analytics primarily collects data by using a small JavaScript code added to website pages that records user interactions.
Understanding the Core Mechanism
To begin measuring a website's performance and user behavior, you first have to create a Google Analytics account. This account is where your data will be processed and where you access your reports.
The next essential step involves adding a small piece of JavaScript measurement code to each page on your site. This unique code snippet is provided by Google Analytics when you set up a property.
The Role of the Tracking Code
This embedded JavaScript code is the fundamental method Google Analytics uses for data collection on websites.
Every time a user visits a webpage, the tracking code will collect pseudonymous information about how that user interacted with the page. This includes actions such as:
- Which specific pages they viewed.
- How long they spent on each page and the site overall.
- How they arrived at the site (e.g., directly, from a search engine, via a link from another site).
- Technical details about their device and browser (though without identifying the individual user personally).
This collected data is then sent to Google's servers for processing. Once processed, the information becomes available in your Google Analytics reports, providing insights into your website's traffic and user behavior.
