# Google Analytics: Universal Analytics plugin

This plugin allows you to track your media content in Google Analytics. It supports VOD, live streams, and ads tracking. The plugin uses [Google Analytics event tracking](https://developers.google.com/analytics/devguides/collection/analyticsjs/events) to record a number of different playback related events.

Warning
Google is deprecating the Universal Analytics property on July 1, 2023. While you can still use this Wowza Flowplayer plugin, it will also be deprecated on October 1, 2023. See our [Google Analytics 4](/docs/wowza-flowplayer/plugins/google-analytics4/) plugin for updated functionality.

## Prerequisites

The Wowza Flowplayer Advertising plugin is required if you want to measure ads.

## Installation

1. Load the plugin and the library from Google next to the core player along with any other plugins (ads) you require.
2. Add the [Google Analytics analytics.js](https://developers.google.com/analytics/devguides/collection/analyticsjs/) file on the same page as the player to make the plugin work.



```html
<!-- Google Analytics -->
<script async src='//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js'></script>
<script src="//cdn.flowplayer.com/releases/native/3/stable/flowplayer.min.js"></script>
<script src="//cdn.flowplayer.com/releases/native/3/stable/plugins/google-analytics.min.js"></script>
```

## Configuration (mandatory)

Configure the plugin with top level configuration option `ga`.

The following properties are available:

embed
Example of top level configuration:


```js
ga: {
  ga_instances: ["UA-XXXXXX-X"],
  media_title: "[media_name]",
  event_categories: {live: "my_live_label"},
  event_actions: { live_start: "my_live_start_label"},
  custom_data: { dimension0: "my dimension value", metric0: "my metric value"}
}
```

## Default labels

There are default labels for each event category and event action.

embed
### Replace default labels

It's possible to override the default labels for the event categories and event actions by specifying the event action/category in the `config`. For example: `video_player_load: "my_custom_load_action"`.

Notice that when replacing the default labels, all events that you want to track must be specified in the `config`, including event actions were you don't want to change the label.

## Ad positions

If you want information on the position of your ad, like whether it's the first, second, or third preroll you're sending, use the replace default labels. Make sure that you include `[x]` in your custom `ad_start_preroll`.

For example, use `ad_start_preroll_[x]`. Then, the plugin will ensure that the `[x]` is replaced so the `ad_start_sequence` is `ad_start_preroll_1`, `ad_start_preroll_2`,  etc. This is only applicable for the `ad_start-events`, but also includes `ad_start_midroll` and `ad_start_postroll`,  with separate counters for all three events.

## Tracking a subset of events

It's possible to track only a subset of the events that are available in this plugin. Just add the event that should be tracked to the `config` and the plugin will only track those events.

Example that only tracks different start and complete events:


```js
ga: {
  ga_instances: ["UA-XXXXXX-1"],
  event_actions: {
    video_start: "video_start",
    video_complete: "video_complete",
    live_start: "live_start",
    ad_start_preroll: "ad_start",
    ad_start_midroll: "ad_start",
    ad_start_postroll: "ad_start"
  }
}
```

## Demo

[Codepen](https://codepen.io/team/flowplayer/pen/JeMPWe)