Google Analytics – REFERENCE

# Google Analytics Metrics Reference Complete reference for Google Analytics 4 (GA4) metrics and dimensions. ## Core Metrics ### User Metrics | Metric | Description | Use Case | |--------|-------------|----------| | `activeUsers` | Users who engaged with your site or app | Overall audience size | | `newUsers` | First-time users | Growth tracking | | `totalUsers` | Total number of users | Audience reach | | `userEngagementDuration` | Total time users spent engaged | Content quality | | `engagedSessions` | Sessions lasting >10s with conversion or 2+ page views | Quality sessions | ### Session Metrics | Metric | Description | Use Case | |--------|-------------|----------| | `sessions` | Total number of sessions | Traffic volume | | `sessionsPerUser` | Average sessions per user | User retention | | `averageSessionDuration` | Mean session length | Engagement depth | | `bounceRate` | Percentage of single-page sessions | Content relevance | | `engagementRate` | Percentage of engaged sessions | Quality of traffic | ### Page/Screen Metrics | Metric | Description | Use Case | |--------|-------------|----------| | `screenPageViews` | Total page and screen views | Content consumption | | `screenPageViewsPerSession` | Average pages per session | Site exploration | | `screenPageViewsPerUser` | Average pages per user | User journey depth | ### Event Metrics | Metric | Description | Use Case | |--------|-------------|----------| | `eventCount` | Total number of events | Interaction tracking | | `eventCountPerUser` | Average events per user | User activity level | | `conversions` | Total conversion events | Goal achievement | | `totalRevenue` | Total revenue from all sources | Monetization | ### E-commerce Metrics | Metric | Description | Use Case | |--------|-------------|----------| | `transactions` | Number of purchases | Sales volume | | `purchaseRevenue` | Revenue from purchases | Sales performance | | `averagePurchaseRevenue` | Average transaction value | Revenue per sale | | `itemsViewed` | Product detail views | Product interest | | `addToCarts` | Items added to cart | Purchase intent | | `checkouts` | Checkout initiations | Conversion funnel | ## Key Dimensions ### Traffic Source Dimensions | Dimension | Description | Example Values | |-----------|-------------|----------------| | `sessionSource` | Source of traffic | google, facebook, direct | | `sessionMedium` | Marketing medium | organic, cpc, referral, email | | `sessionCampaignName` | Campaign identifier | spring-sale, black-friday | | `sessionDefaultChannelGroup` | Channel grouping | Organic Search, Paid Social, Direct | | `firstUserSource` | Source of user's first visit | google, twitter, newsletter | ### Content Dimensions | Dimension | Description | Example Values | |-----------|-------------|----------------| | `pagePath` | Page URL path | /blog/post-title, /products/item | | `pageTitle` | Page title | Home, Product Page, Blog Post | | `pageLocation` | Full page URL | https://example.com/page | | `landingPage` | First page of session | /home, /blog/article | | `exitPage` | Last page of session | /checkout, /contact | ### User Dimensions | Dimension | Description | Example Values | |-----------|-------------|----------------| | `country` | User country | United States, United Kingdom | | `city` | User city | New York, London, Tokyo | | `deviceCategory` | Device type | mobile, desktop, tablet | | `browser` | Browser name | Chrome, Safari, Firefox | | `operatingSystem` | OS name | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS | ### Time Dimensions | Dimension | Description | Example Values | |-----------|-------------|----------------| | `date` | Date (YYYYMMDD) | 20260118 | | `year` | Year | 2026 | | `month` | Month | 01, 02, 03 | | `week` | Week number | 01, 02, 03 | | `dayOfWeek` | Day of week | Sunday, Monday | | `hour` | Hour of day | 00-23 | ## Common Metric Combinations ### Traffic Analysis ```python metrics = [ "sessions", "activeUsers", "newUsers", "engagementRate", "bounceRate" ] dimensions = ["sessionSource", "sessionMedium"] ``` ### Content Performance ```python metrics = [ "screenPageViews", "averageSessionDuration", "bounceRate", "eventCount" ] dimensions = ["pagePath", "pageTitle"] ``` ### User Behavior ```python metrics = [ "activeUsers", "sessionsPerUser", "screenPageViewsPerSession", "userEngagementDuration" ] dimensions = ["deviceCategory", "country"] ``` ### Conversion Tracking ```python metrics = [ "conversions", "sessions", "eventCount", "engagementRate" ] dimensions = ["sessionSource", "sessionMedium", "sessionCampaignName"] ``` ### E-commerce Analysis ```python metrics = [ "transactions", "purchaseRevenue", "averagePurchaseRevenue", "itemsViewed", "addToCarts" ] dimensions = ["sessionSource", "deviceCategory"] ``` ## Date Range Formats ### Relative Ranges - `yesterday` - Previous day - `today` - Current day - `7daysAgo` - Week ago - `30daysAgo` - Month ago - `90daysAgo` - Quarter ago ### Absolute Ranges - Format: `YYYY-MM-DD` - Example: `2026-01-01` to `2026-01-31` ### Common Periods ```python # Last 7 days start_date = "7daysAgo" end_date = "yesterday" # Last 30 days start_date = "30daysAgo" end_date = "yesterday" # Month-to-date start_date = "2026-01-01" end_date = "today" # Compare periods current_start = "30daysAgo" current_end = "yesterday" previous_start = "60daysAgo" previous_end = "31daysAgo" ``` ## Filters ### Basic Filters ```python # Filter by page path dimension_filter = { "filter": { "fieldName": "pagePath", "stringFilter": {"value": "/blog"} } } # Filter by country dimension_filter = { "filter": { "fieldName": "country", "stringFilter": {"value": "United States"} } } # Filter by session source dimension_filter = { "filter": { "fieldName": "sessionSource", "stringFilter": {"value": "google"} } } ``` ### Numeric Filters ```python # Sessions greater than 100 metric_filter = { "filter": { "fieldName": "sessions", "numericFilter": { "operation": "GREATER_THAN", "value": {"int64Value": "100"} } } } ``` ### Filter Operators | Operator | Description | Example | |----------|-------------|---------| | `EXACT` | Exact match | Country = "United States" | | `BEGINS_WITH` | Starts with | Page path starts with "/blog" | | `ENDS_WITH` | Ends with | Page path ends with ".html" | | `CONTAINS` | Contains substring | Page title contains "guide" | | `REGEX` | Regular expression | Path matches pattern | ## Order By Sort results by metrics or dimensions: ```python # Order by sessions descending order_bys = [{ "metric": {"metricName": "sessions"}, "desc": True }] # Order by page path ascending order_bys = [{ "dimension": {"dimensionName": "pagePath"}, "desc": False }] ``` ## API Response Structure ```python { "dimensionHeaders": [ {"name": "sessionSource"}, {"name": "sessionMedium"} ], "metricHeaders": [ {"name": "sessions", "type": "TYPE_INTEGER"}, {"name": "bounceRate", "type": "TYPE_FLOAT"} ], "rows": [ { "dimensionValues": [ {"value": "google"}, {"value": "organic"} ], "metricValues": [ {"value": "1250"}, {"value": "0.45"} ] } ], "rowCount": 1, "metadata": {...} } ``` ## Best Practices ### Performance - Request only needed metrics and dimensions - Use date ranges that balance detail and performance - Limit results with `limit` parameter (max 100,000) - Use pagination for large datasets ### Accuracy - Allow 24-48 hours for data processing - Use `yesterday` instead of `today` for complete data - Be aware of sampling in large datasets - Check `metadata.samplingMetadatas` in responses ### Analysis - Compare periods for context (week-over-week, month-over-month) - Segment by meaningful dimensions (device, source, location) - Focus on engagement metrics, not just volume - Track trends over time, not just snapshots ## Common Calculations ### Conversion Rate ``` conversion_rate = (conversions / sessions) * 100 ``` ### Average Order Value ``` aov = purchaseRevenue / transactions ``` ### Pages per Session ``` pages_per_session = screenPageViews / sessions ``` ### Engagement Rate ``` engagement_rate = (engagedSessions / sessions) * 100 ``` ### Revenue per User ``` rpu = totalRevenue / activeUsers ``` ## Resources - [GA4 Dimensions & Metrics Explorer](https://ga-dev-tools.google/ga4/dimensions-metrics-explorer/) - [GA4 API Reference](https://developers.google.com/analytics/devguides/reporting/data/v1) - [GA4 Query Explorer](https://ga-dev-tools.google/ga4/query-explorer/)