Session
A session is a single visit to a website, grouping the pages viewed and actions taken until the visitor leaves or goes idle.
What a session is
A session is one visit to a site: the pages viewed and actions taken from arrival until the visitor leaves or goes idle long enough for the visit to close.
Analytics tools group everything inside that window, typically ending a session after around 30 minutes of inactivity, and count a return afterward as a new one.
Why sessions matter
The session is the unit most ecommerce metrics divide by. Conversion rate, bounce rate, and add-to-cart rate are usually per-session numbers, so what counts as a session shapes every one of them.
Session mechanics worth knowing
- Timeouts end idle sessions; settings vary by tool
- One person can generate several sessions a day
- Cross-device visits often count as separate sessions
- Definitions differ between analytics platforms, so numbers do too
Frequently asked questions
Sessions vs users: which should you watch?
Sessions measure visit volume; users approximate people. Funnel math runs on sessions, audience questions run on users, and comparing across the two misleads.
Why did sessions jump without more customers?
Often measurement, not demand: bot traffic, tracking changes, or shoppers making repeat short visits. Check conversion alongside before celebrating.