Urchin Software: Google's Early Analytics Partner

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A laptop showing an analytics dashboard with charts and graphs, symbolizing modern data analysis tools.
Credit: pexels.com, A laptop showing an analytics dashboard with charts and graphs, symbolizing modern data analysis tools.

Urchin Software was a game-changer for web analytics, and it's interesting to note that Google was its early analytics partner.

Google partnered with Urchin in 2005, which marked a significant milestone in the company's history.

This partnership allowed Urchin to provide web analytics solutions to its customers, and it was a key factor in the software's widespread adoption.

Google's involvement with Urchin laid the groundwork for its own analytics platform, Google Analytics, which was launched in 2005.

History and Acquisition

Urchin was a popular web analytics tool that was acquired by Google in 2005. The acquisition was announced on March 28, 2005.

Some users of Urchin were shocked by the news, while others were happy for the company. Rustybricks, a user, commented, "I am so happy for Urchin. I have been using them since they had their first beta product out there. Congrats!"

The acquisition led to the development of Google Analytics, a powerful tool for website owners to understand their traffic and visitor behavior. Nebbys, a user, noted that Google Analytics is an "in depth tool as to why our visitors and traffic has come through the search engine know as GOOGLE!"

The legacy of Urchin can still be seen in Google Analytics today. For example, Analytics Property IDs began with "UA" - the abbreviation for Urchin Analytics. UTM parameters, which are used to track website traffic, also stand for "Urchin Traffic Monitor."

Technical Details

Credit: youtube.com, Urchin (software) | Wikipedia audio article

Urchin software is primarily used for web analytics, allowing users to track and analyze website traffic.

It was developed by Urchin Software Corporation, a company founded in 1995.

The software provides detailed reports on website usage, including metrics such as page views, unique visitors, and bounce rates.

Urchin software integrates with various web servers, including Apache and IIS, making it compatible with a wide range of websites.

Software

Urchin was a web statistics analysis program developed by Urchin Software Corporation. It analyzed web server log file content and displayed traffic information on the website based on log data.

Urchin software could be run in two different data collection modes: log file analyzer or hybrid. As a log file analyzer, Urchin processed web server log files in various log file formats, and custom file formats could also be defined.

The software's hybrid mode combined page tags with log file data, eradicating the limitations of each data collection method in isolation. This resulted in more accurate web visitor data.

On a similar theme: Google Drive File Editor

Credit: youtube.com, Decoding the DNA of Software Development: Technical Specifications

Urchin became a popular solution for website traffic analysis, especially with ISPs and web hosting providers. This was due to its scalability in performance and pricing model.

Here are some key features of Urchin software:

  • Log file analyzer mode processed web server log files in various formats
  • Hybrid mode combined page tags with log file data for more accurate visitor data
  • Custom file formats could be defined
  • Scalable in performance
  • Pricing model was competitive

Urchin Software Corp. was acquired by Google in April 2005, forming Google Analytics.

Tracking Code

The Urchin Tracking Code is a piece of code that was used to include the Google Analytics Tracking Pixel (GIF) as well as Urchin. The statement "_userv = 2;" was the specific code used to enable this tracking.

The Urchin.js script is still available on the Google Servers, which is a testament to the legacy of this tracking code.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is urchin application?

Urchin is a web analytics system that helps businesses analyze website traffic and create detailed reports. It's a powerful log-analysis program that goes beyond basic visitor tracking.

Who is the founder of urchin software?

The founders of Urchin software were Paul Muret, Jack Ancone, Brett Crosby, and Scott Crosby. They later sold the company to Google in 2005, which rebranded the product as Google Analytics.

Tanya Hodkiewicz

Junior Assigning Editor

Tanya Hodkiewicz is a seasoned Assigning Editor with a keen eye for compelling content. With a proven track record of commissioning articles that captivate and inform, Tanya has established herself as a trusted voice in the industry. Her expertise spans a range of categories, including "Important" pieces that tackle complex, timely topics and "Decade in Review" features that offer insightful retrospectives on significant events.

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