what model represents the hierarchical structure of a google analytics account?
What model represents the hierarchical structure of a Google Analytics account?
Answer: In Google Analytics, the hierarchical structure is designed to systematically organize the data collected from your website or app. This hierarchy includes four primary levels: Account, Property, View, and User. Here’s a detailed breakdown of each component:
1. Account:
- Definition: The highest level in the hierarchy, representing your organization or business.
- Purpose: Every Google Analytics account can include multiple properties, allowing you to manage data from several websites or apps under one umbrella.
- Management: You can grant user permissions at this level, determining who can access and manage which properties and views.
2. Property:
- Definition: A property signifies a specific website, mobile app, or device.
- Tracking ID: Each property is assigned a unique tracking ID (formerly known as UA code for Universal Analytics, and currently a measurement ID for GA4).
- Data Collection: The tracking code installed on your site or app collects data and sends it to the property.
- Scope: Properties include detailed configuration settings and can house multiple views.
3. View:
- Definition: A view is a distinct perspective into the data for a specific property.
- Custom Configurations: Users can apply filters to views to include or exclude specific data, thus tailoring reports to meet specific analysis needs.
- Types of Views: You can create multiple views for various reporting purposes, such as a master view (unfiltered), a test view (for testing filters and changes), and a filtered view (for data like traffic from a specific region).
- Historical Data: It’s important to note that once data is collected in a particular view, it can’t be retroactively altered or filtered. Always keep an unfiltered view for backup.
4. User:
- Roles and Permissions: At each level, you can assign different roles and permissions to users. Users can have different levels of access for managing accounts, properties, and views, ensuring the right people can only take necessary actions.
Example Structure:
Account:
- Business XYZ
Properties:
-
Property 1 (Website Data for www.example.com)
- View 1: Unfiltered Website View
- View 2: Filtered by Region
- View 3: Filtered by Traffic Source
-
Property 2 (App Data for Example App)
- View 1: Unfiltered App View
- View 2: Filtered by User Behavior
- View 3: Filtered by Device Type
Benefits of this Hierarchical Model:
- Organizational Clarity: It provides a clear and logical way to structure data, making it easier to locate specific reports and insights.
- Granular Control: The ability to set permissions at different levels ensures that access and data management align with business needs.
- Data Integrity: By maintaining multiple views, organizations can ensure data integrity and create backups to prevent data loss.
By understanding and effectively utilizing the hierarchical structure of Google Analytics, businesses can maximize their capacity to analyze and act on the data relevant to their digital properties.