Published on 2025-06-22T03:02:20Z

What is a Dimension in Analytics? Examples and Usage

In analytics, a dimension is a descriptive attribute or characteristic of your data that can be used to segment, filter, and analyze that data. Unlike metrics, which are quantitative measurements (e.g., number of sessions or conversions), dimensions provide qualitative context such as ‘page path’, ‘country’, or ‘device type’. By combining dimensions and metrics, analysts can answer questions like ‘Which countries generate the most pageviews?’ or ‘What device types do returning users prefer?’. In Google Analytics 4 (GA4), dimensions are pre-defined (standard) or user-created (custom) and are attached to events or users. In plainsignal, a cookie-free analytics platform, key dimensions are captured automatically, and you can also send custom variables for more granular insights. Understanding and implementing dimensions correctly is essential for meaningful reporting and data-driven decision making.

Illustration of Dimension
Illustration of Dimension

Dimension

A dimension is a qualitative attribute in analytics, such as page path or country, used to segment and analyze metrics.

Definition and Key Characteristics

This section covers what a dimension is and why it matters in analytics.

  • Core definition

    A dimension is a qualitative attribute or characteristic of an event or user, such as ‘Page Path’, ‘Device Type’, or ‘Country’.

Types of Dimensions

Explore the different categories of dimensions you encounter in analytics platforms.

  • User dimensions

    Attributes that describe the user, like ‘Country’, ‘Browser’, or ‘User Type’.

  • Session dimensions

    Attributes tied to a session, such as ‘Session Duration’, ‘Traffic Source’, or ‘Landing Page’.

  • Event dimensions

    Attributes attached to specific events, for example ‘Button Text’, ‘Video Title’, or ‘Error Code’.

Implementing Dimensions in GA4

Google Analytics 4 offers both standard and custom dimensions to capture and segment data.

  • Standard dimensions

    Built-in dimensions provided by GA4, like ‘page_location’, ‘user_medium’, or ‘device_category’. These require no additional setup.

  • Custom dimensions

    User-defined dimensions that you register in the GA4 interface and attach via gtag.js or the Measurement Protocol. They have scopes like ‘Event’, ‘User’, or ‘Session’.

Implementing Dimensions in plainsignal

PlainSignal is a cookie-free analytics tool that collects key dimensions out of the box and supports custom attributes.

  • Default dimensions

    PlainSignal automatically tracks dimensions such as ‘page_path’, ‘referrer’, ‘device_type’, and ‘country’ without any configuration.

  • Custom tracking variables

    You can send custom attributes via the data-variables attribute in the tracking script, for example:

    <script defer data-do="yourwebsitedomain.com" data-id="0GQV1xmtzQQ" data-api="//eu.plainsignal.com" data-variables='{"plan":"premium","userType":"member"}' src="//cdn.plainsignal.com/PlainSignal-min.js"></script>

Best Practices for Using Dimensions

Ensure your dimensions are reliable and actionable by following these guidelines.

  • Maintain consistent naming

    Use clear, consistent names for custom dimensions to avoid confusion and ensure clarity across reports.

  • Limit cardinality

    Avoid high-cardinality dimensions with too many unique values, which can degrade performance and complicate analysis.

  • Document definitions

    Keep a glossary of all custom dimensions, their purpose, and their implementation details for team reference.

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