The web-log analytics is an alternative way of tracking website visitors. Unlike the most common method of using a JavaScript code installed on your website, it captures data from a log file stored on a web server.
Each log file contains information about a visitor and his or her session, and Piwik PRO can access this information. Here’s how the process looks like:
- A visitor comes to your website, and the browser sends a request to the web server to load the site.
- The web server stores this information in its log files.
- The logs are transferred to the server where Piwik PRO is hosted.
Because web-log analytics is a different method, collected data may be different from what you can capture with the tracking code. But this route is an option when you look for an ultra-secure solution.
Here are some basic pros for analyzing web logs:
- You don’t need to install a tracking code on your website. Data-sensitive businesses like banks, healthcare, or the government choose this method to secure data privacy.
- Tracking blockers don’t affect collecting data via web logs.
- You can import historical data anytime. File logs sit on a web server until they are deleted.
Here are some basic cons for analyzing web logs:
- You need to be a technically savvy person and have access to the web server to use this method.
- The tracking code can collect more data, for example, a page title, screen resolution, custom dimensions, ecommerce data, and the like.
- You can only use Analytics with web logs. Tag Manager, Audience Manager, and Consent Manager will not work with this method.
For more about web-log analytics in Piwik PRO, read our developers documentation.