Introduction
Events are the foundation of product analytics. Every action a user takes in your app is an event. Tracking events correctly is the difference between actionable insights and useless data.
What Is an Event
Event: A specific action a user takes in your app.
Examples: user_signed_up, feature_adopted, payment_received, support_contacted
Event Naming Conventions
Good: user_upgraded, feature_adopted, session_ended
Bad: click_happened, thing_done, event123
Rules: Use snake_case, be specific, describe the user's intent, not the technical action.
Event Properties & Metadata
Each event can have properties (metadata):
- user_upgraded → user_id, plan_type, upgrade_price, payment_method
- feature_adopted → feature_name, time_to_adoption, user_tier
Properties enable filtering and segmentation in analysis.
Best Practices
- Track outcomes, not actions: "User purchased" not "Purchase button clicked"
- Consistency: Use same event name everywhere in code
- Low cardinality properties: Avoid user_id as a property (breaks aggregation). Use is_premium instead
- Version events: If logic changes, use event_name_v2
- QA thoroughly: Test events before production launch
How to Implement
1. Pick a CDP or analytics SDK: Segment, Amplitude, Mixpanel
2. Define events as a team: Document what each event means
3. Implement in code: Call track('event_name', properties) when event occurs
4. QA and validate: Check events in platform, verify counts match expectations
Conclusion
Event tracking is your analytics foundation. Define events well, name them clearly, and track consistently. Good event data enables confident decision-making.
Related Resources
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