In Google Analytics, a dimension is an attribute that describes, organizes, segments, and sorts data. Each dimension accepts different values. For example, the dimension “Medium” tells you through which channels you acquire new users. It accepts values like “affiliate”, “cpc”, and “email”.
GA4 Page Path – Several Dimensions
Google Analytics 4 (GA4) offers a comprehensive set of dimensions for analyzing page-level data. With notable differences from how page path worked in Google Universal Analytics. One key dimension in GA4 is “Page Path + Query Parameters,” which represents the full URL of the page, combining both the page path and any query parameters. This unified approach streamlines data analysis, distinguishing GA4 from its predecessor.
Additionally, GA4 introduces “Screen Class” for mobile apps, providing insights into user engagement within the app environment. Alongside these, traditional dimensions like “Page Title” and “Landing Page” are still there. In addition, GA4 introduced “Page Location,” which captures the entire URL, from the domain name to the query string. While this dimension offers granular data, it’s often employed for specific purposes like troubleshooting referral traffic or integrating with external tools.
GA4 Page Path – When to Use Each Dimension:
- Page Path + Query Parameters: This represents the full URL of the page, including both the path and any query parameters. For example, if the full URL of a page is “https://example.com/page?utm_source=google”, the “Page Path + Query Parameters” dimension would include both the path “/page” and the query string “?utm_source=google”. Use this dimension when you want to analyze user behavior at the page level considering both the path of the page and any query parameters appended to the URL.
- Page Path + Screen Class: This combined dimension offers the URL path (similar to the concept of “Page Path”) along with an optional screen class assigned by developers. The screen class provides more granular detail about specific views within a single URL, particularly useful for Single-Page Applications (SPAs). Use this dimension when analyzing user engagement and behavior within mobile apps, to understand which screens are most frequently visited.
- Page Title: This dimension captures the title displayed on the browser tab for the specific page a user viewed. Analyze user behavior based on the content they’re likely engaging with based on the page title.
- Landing Page: This dimension shows the first page a user visits within a session. Analyze which pages are most effective at attracting users and understand user journeys by identifying typical entry points.
- Page Location: Similar to the “Page Path + Query Parameters” dimension, this captures the entire URL, including domain name, page path, and query string. It provides the most detail but can be overwhelming for analysis. Use this when you need the complete, unfiltered URL for specific purposes, like troubleshooting referral traffic issues or integrating with external tools.
While not technically a dimension in GA4, the “Query String” is the part of the URL following the question mark (“?”) that contains dynamic data specific to the user’s session (e.g., search terms, sorting options).
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