Google Analytics is a powerful tool that tracks and analyzes website traffic for informed marketing decisions.
Service URL: policies.google.com (opens in a new window)
_gali
Used by Google Analytics to determine which links on a page are being clicked
30 seconds
_ga_
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gid
ID used to identify users for 24 hours after last activity
24 hours
_gat
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests when using Google Tag Manager
1 minute
_gac_
Contains information related to marketing campaigns of the user. These are shared with Google AdWords / Google Ads when the Google Ads and Google Analytics accounts are linked together.
90 days
__utma
ID used to identify users and sessions
2 years after last activity
__utmt
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests
10 minutes
__utmb
Used to distinguish new sessions and visits. This cookie is set when the GA.js javascript library is loaded and there is no existing __utmb cookie. The cookie is updated every time data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
30 minutes after last activity
__utmc
Used only with old Urchin versions of Google Analytics and not with GA.js. Was used to distinguish between new sessions and visits at the end of a session.
End of session (browser)
__utmz
Contains information about the traffic source or campaign that directed user to the website. The cookie is set when the GA.js javascript is loaded and updated when data is sent to the Google Anaytics server
6 months after last activity
__utmv
Contains custom information set by the web developer via the _setCustomVar method in Google Analytics. This cookie is updated every time new data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
2 years after last activity
__utmx
Used to determine whether a user is included in an A / B or Multivariate test.
18 months
_ga
ID used to identify users
2 years
Hmmmm….
Every now and then I see something really funny, ‘cos it’s true and points out some weird foible about society. Then I realize that even though OTHER folks have noticed the stupid too, it persists. Then I get sad.
Don C.
Y’know, in about 4 years we’ll be saying similar things about Facebook, too. In about 5 years we’ll be attacking Ello.
It follows a similar process to fashion. The online tool is invented, the early users explore its functions, the mass of users follow, who use it to do simple things, then the early haters arise, followed by mass hate. And nobody, beyond a few specialists like cataloguing librarians, remembers why the tool was so innovative.
>And nobody, beyond a few specialists like cataloguing librarians, remembers why the tool was so innovative.
Sometimes it`s not really THAT innovative. A lot of the `social media` platforms don`t offer too much beyond sudden exposure. (The `like fireworks` bit is pretty accurate.) The Gong Show used to do that too. And to win that exposure you have to parse your ideas into smaller formats, which climatizes folks into processing info in smaller formats.
Don C.
Actually Tumblr made non-controlled vocabulary work by being so popular. Thus,you could find a picture by looking for Thailand,or tailand. Those pictures would be different,but they would both show you images of Thailand.
>Tumblr made non-controlled vocabulary work by being so popular.
Old search engines did that too; especially once Google started their setup.
Don C.