Study first
Review the ideas behind the questions
These notes cover the GA4 setup pieces that affect event tracking, reports, DebugView, explorations, and custom data.
Events and key events
GA4 is built around events. An event can record a page view, click, file download, purchase, app action, or another interaction.
- Some events are collected automatically after the Google tag or Firebase SDK is set up.
- Enhanced measurement can collect common web interactions when it is enabled.
- A key event is an event that marks an important business action.
- Good event names and parameters make reports easier to read later.
Data streams and setup checks
A data stream sends website or app data into a GA4 property. A web stream, Android app stream, and iOS app stream are separate streams.
- A data stream starts collecting data after the tag or app SDK is added.
- Realtime can help confirm that recent activity is arriving.
- DebugView is useful when you want to check events from a debug-enabled browser or device.
- Standard reports can take longer to show complete data than Realtime or DebugView.
Reports and acquisition
GA4 reports help you answer common questions without building a custom analysis from scratch.
- The Traffic acquisition report helps show where new and returning visitors came from.
- Traffic-source dimensions include source, medium, campaign, and default channel group.
- Realtime shows recent activity, including active users and triggered events.
- Use acquisition reports for more reliable attribution than Realtime.
Explorations and custom definitions
Explorations are useful when standard reports do not answer the question you have.
- Explorations can use dimensions, metrics, segments, and filters.
- Event parameters can add detail to events, such as which button was clicked.
- Categorical event-parameter data usually belongs in an event-scoped custom dimension.
- Use predefined dimensions and metrics before creating custom ones.