Tracking Code: The _gaq Global Object

The _gaq global object can be used directly for asynchronous page tracking via the push(...) method. It also has methods for creating tracker objects, but these should only be used in rare cases.

For traditional page tracking, use the _gat global object instead.

_gaq Object Methods

• _createAsyncTracker(accountId, opt_name) deprecated
• _getAsyncTracker(opt_name) deprecated
• push(commandArray)

Method Details

push

push(commandArray)

Executes the given command array, which is simply a JavaScript array that conforms to the following format. The first element of the array must be the name of a tracker object method passed as a string. The rest of the array elements are the values to be passed in as arguments to the function.

The following usage is typical:


var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-65432-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);


This function is named push so that an array can be used in the place of _gaq before Analytics has completely loaded. While Analytics is loading, commands will be pushed/queued onto the array. When Analytics finishes loading, it replaces the array with the _gaq object and executes all the queued commands. Subsequent calls to _gaq.push resolve to this function, which executes commands as they are pushed.

The above example shows how to push commands for the default tracker object. Additional trackers can be created by giving them names and prepending the tracker name (along with a dot) in front of the method name. If a function name is qualified with the name of a tracker, it is executed on that tracker. Otherwise it is executed on the default tracker.

The following example first uses the default tracker, and then creates and uses another tracker (arbitrarily called t2).


var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-65432-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);

_gaq.push(['t2._setAccount', 'UA-65432-2']);
_gaq.push(['t2._setDomainName', 'foo.com']);
_gaq.push(['t2._trackPageview']);


Note: Trackers get created the first time a command references them. The default tracker is created via the first command that doesn't explicitly name its tracker. The default tracker's name is the empty string ''.

In addition to pushing command arrays, you can also push function objects. This can be especially useful for tracker methods that return values. These functions can reference both _gat and _gaq.


var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(function() {
  var tracker = _gat._getTracker('UA-65432-1');
  tracker._trackPageview();
});


You can also use the push syntax directly in the HTML of your page.


onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'name', value]);"


As long as the asynchronous Analytics snippet exists above the link, clicks will be captured without errors; even if Analytics hasn't fully loaded at the time of the click. This is one of the many benefits of asynchronous tracking.


Lastly, instead of typing _gaq.push(...) for each command array, you can push all of your commands at once. The following code demonstrates this technique. See the Async Snippet Usage Guide for more details.

_gaq.push(
  ['_setAccount', 'UA-XXXXX-X'],
  ['_setDomainName', 'example.com'],
  ['_setCustomVar', 1, 'Section', 'Life & Style', 3],
  ['_trackPageview']
);

parameters

Array commandArray The command to be executed. One or more of these can be pushed in the same invocation.

returns

Number The number of commands that failed to execute.

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