Understanding Google Analytics Metrics

Before we start reading about Google Analytic measures, it is worth to have a little background about basic concept of dimension  and metrics.

In Google Analytics we have two types of data :

1. Dimensions :  It describes characteristics of users , their sessions and actions. The dimension city describes a characteristics of sessions and indicates the city for example "Paris" , from which sessions was originated. The dimension page describes a characteristics of page view actions and indicates the URL of each page that was viewed.
2. Metrics : These are simply quantitative measurement of users, sessions and actions. Metrics are numerical data , basically they are numbers.

When extracting data for City as a primary dimension and Browser as a secondary dimension , we  will have following view :

 Google Analytics Metrics :

1. Visitors or Users : This metrics measures number of unique users that visit your site during certain period of time. This is most commonly used metrics used to measure overall size of audience. This can further be categorized as New Visitors and Returning visitors. This number is more accurate in telling you how many individual people visited your web site. In order to perform work load modelling for your performance test , always ask this metrics as part your requirement gathering.
2. Visits or Sessions :  Visits are also known as sessions , are defined as a period of consecutive activity by the same user. By default in Google Analytics , a session persists until a user stops interacting the sites for 30 minutes. 
3. Pageviews : Within each visit or session , your users will engage in one or more interaction with your web pages. Google Analytics will automatically track these interactions as "pageviews". Pageviews metrics counts every time a page is viewed on your site.
4. Pages per Session : This is average number of pages viewed during a session on your web site. More pages per session indicates user is quite engaged with your web site. 
5. Average Session Duration : This is average length of user's sessions. Higher number again indicates users are more engaged with your web site.
6. Bounce Rate : This is percentage of visits that are single page only i.e users who visits single page and leave. 
7. % New Sessions :  This is an average percentage of first time visitors on your web site. 

We will get all above mentioned metrics under Audience Overview :