![]() ![]() The function returns the previous occurred_at value for the user_id. (PARTITION BY user_id ORDER BY occurred_at) AS last_event This can be accomplished easily with the LAG function. The query to define the beginning of a session starts by adding a column to your events table that shows the timestamp of the user's previous event. If you're looking to analyze what a user does during each session, however, you'll need to map each event to its appropriate session (more on that below). If all you're looking to do is count sessions, this will be the only step you'll need. The first step for defining sessions is figuring out when new sessions start. You'll then define the gap size that initiates a new session. You'll look at the actions taken by a particular user, and search for gaps between an action and the subsequent action. ![]() The following illustration provides an overview of how the queries outlined below will calculate sessions. ![]() Though these tables typically include a lot of information-user IDs, timestamps, event names, IP addresses, browser and device info, and referral paths-the only two columns you need for defining a session are a user_id column and a timestamp of when an event took place. To define user sessions using SQL, all you need is a table of event data and a database that supports windowing functions (which, notably, excludes MySQL). While it might seem complicated, it's actually straightforward to define custom sessions when working with raw data. Google Analytics, for example, automatically makes assumptions about what user activity is, and how much time must pass between activities to constitute new sessions.īecause your product may not fit within these defaults-or only fits sometimes-it can be useful to define sessions manually. Unfortunately, most tools that automatically define user sessions provide default answers to these questions. In other cases, they might want to end the session when the app is closed and start a new one every time it's opened. In some cases, Facebook might want to consider the back-and-forth during a single conversation as one session, regardless of how many times the app was opened or closed. Facebook's Messenger app is likely opened and closed repeatedly during conversations. Moreover, even within a single product, these definitions can change depending on the question you're trying to answer. And while Netflix might allow long breaks in activity and still consider it uninterrupted-pausing a movie to go to the bathroom probably shouldn't start a new session-Snapchat might break up sessions if someone stops using the app for just a couple minutes. Activity on YouTube likely includes the time a video is playing, but Amazon might require people to click on things to be considered active. Facebook might define a user as someone who's logged in, while the New York Times considers everyone looking at a page. What exactly is a user? What constitutes activity? What does uninterrupted mean?ĭepending on what you're analyzing, these questions have different answers. If a user opens Facebook, clicks around the timeline, looks at a few pictures, and then closes Facebook, that would be one session. What's a User Session?Ī user session is a period of uninterrupted activity on a website or app. This can seem daunting-but it doesn't need to be. But, default definitions may not be appropriate for your unique product or, even if they are, there will be times you'll want to define sessions using your raw event data. A lot of product questions are based on the idea of a user “session.” What do users do when they first log in? In what order do users take specific actions? How long do people use your site in an average sitting? Does activity vary by device?Ī number of analytics tools define user sessions automatically.
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