Understanding GA4 Events and Parameters
Deep dive into GA4's event-based measurement model. Learn how to use events and parameters effectively for better insights.
The Event-Based Model
GA4's event-based architecture is fundamentally different from Universal Analytics. Understanding events and parameters is key to mastering GA4.
What Are Events?
Events are user interactions with your content. In GA4, everything is an event - pageviews, clicks, scrolls, purchases, and more.
Automatically Collected Events
GA4 automatically collects several events without any configuration: first_visit, session_start, user_engagement, and page_view.
Enhanced Measurement Events
When you enable enhanced measurement, GA4 automatically tracks: scroll, click, view_search_results, video_start, video_progress, video_complete, file_download, and outbound clicks.
Custom Events
Create custom events for business-specific actions. Use descriptive names and follow Google's naming conventions.
Event Parameters
Parameters add context to events. They're like dimensions in Universal Analytics but more flexible. You can have up to 25 parameters per event.
Best Practices for Events
- Use consistent naming conventions
- Add relevant parameters for context
- Don't create too many custom events
- Test events before deploying to production
- Document your event taxonomy
Common Use Cases
Track form submissions, button clicks, video engagement, scroll depth, product interactions, and custom user actions.