Google Analytics team announced updates to the Google Analytics Measurement Protocol, introducing new device and user_agent fields for enhanced measurement capabilities.
New Device Information Fields
The Google Analytics Measurement Protocol now allows users to send device information for Measurement Protocol events using either the newly added device field or user_agent field. This enhancement improves measurement for web and app streams by enabling direct event transmission to Google Analytics servers through HTTP requests.
The Measurement Protocol facilitates recording of server-to-server and offline interactions, sending them as Measurement Protocol events to Google Analytics for report viewing.
Device Field Structure and Attributes
To send device information, users can utilize the device field with the following structure. Google recommends providing as many attributes as possible, with category as the minimum requirement:
Required and Optional Parameters
Category (string, optional): Specifies the device category such as desktop, tablet, mobile, or smart TV.
Language (string, optional): Defines the language in ISO 639-1 format, including examples like en or en-US.
Screen Resolution (string, optional): Indicates device resolution formatted as WIDTHxHEIGHT, such as 1280x2856 or 1080x2340.
Operating System (string, optional): Identifies the operating system or platform, for example MacOS.
Operating System Version (string, optional): Specifies the OS version, such as 13.5.
Model (string, optional): Details the device model, including examples like Pixel 9 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S24.
Brand (string, optional): Identifies the device brand such as Google or Samsung.
Browser (string, optional): Specifies the browser brand or type, including Chrome or Firefox.
Browser Version (string, optional): Indicates the browser version, such as 136.0.7103.60 or 5.0.
Enhanced Measurement Capabilities
The addition of these fields strengthens the Google Analytics Measurement Protocol's ability to capture comprehensive device information, improving data accuracy for businesses tracking user interactions across various platforms and devices.
