User Segments

A user segment is a group of users who share a common characteristic or behavior (event property, user property, or event completion). They may be one-time (a one-time group that meets a set of fixed criteria, for example, “Users who logged in on Friday, May 29th”) or they may be refreshed daily (an ever-changing group that meets a set of relative criteria, for example, “Users who created an account within the last 30 days”). You may create user segments from within any Analytics tool and the segments may be used within the tools for further analysis, within Users to review the individuals in that segment, or for export via the User Segments Export API. This article describes how to create a user segment, view or manage user segments, and how to use user segments for analysis.

Note: In the User Export Segments API, the value representing one-time is Static and the value for daily is Dynamic.

Available in: Segmentation, Funnel, Cohort

Create a user segment

Segmentation

You may create a user segment in Segmentation from any result that contains at least one user. To create a user segment, click on any data point, series, or table cell within your query results, then select “Create User Segment”.

• A user segment created from a point will only include users from that particular data point.
• A user segment created from a series will include all users from all of the data points in the selected analysis results.

Funnel

You may create a user segment in Funnel from any result that contains at least one user. To create a user segment for a funnel up to and including a particular step, click on the numerical user count located within the table along the bottom of the chart area, labeled “Count,” then select “Create User Segment”.

You may also select the number displayed within the circle that represents users who complete the step within the chart area, then click on the relevant path, and then select “Create User Segment.”

Funnels with breakouts

There are two options for creating a user segment when the funnel query contains a group by:

• A user segment created from a breakout selection will contain users in that particular breakout.
• A user segment created from the entire step will contain all users in this step, regardless of breakout.

Funnels with optional steps

In a multi-path funnel, you must select a single pathway to create a user segment.

Cohort

You may create a user segment from any result that contains at least one user. A user segment created from a cohort generation will contain users in that particular cohort. This includes all of the users in the table row.

A user segment created from a cohort interval will contain users in the cohort who also completed the target behavior in the interval. This includes only the users in the table cell.

“Create a user segment” modal

Use the Create User Segment Modal to review the criteria that comprise your user segment, create a name, description, and category for the user segment, and select whether the segment never changes (One-time) or is updated daily (Daily).

• This User Segment is composed of users who: … : This section describes the criteria for selecting users to be included in the segment.
• Segment Name: Give your segment a name. It is recommended that the name be easily understood by any user within your organization.
• Description: Provide additional context and notes here, for example, to describe how this user segment should be used or to provide business-specific context. The description will appear within the data dictionary, available within each tool.
• Category: Define the category that your segment belongs to. For example, if the segment is related to marketing, type “Marketing.”
• One-time vs. Daily: A user segment with an update cadence of One-time is never updated. It contains only the users that meet a set of fixed criteria. If the update cadence is Daily, the user segment is updated daily to include all users that meet a set of relative criteria. Users may enter or exit a dynamic user segment as it updates over time.

Note: A dynamic user segment will only update if it is defined by a relative date range, for example, “Users who created an account within the last 30 days.”

Analyze using a user segment

Filter where

Filter where clauses allow you to filter an analysis by a specific value or values within an event property or user property. In the case of user segments, a “filter where” clause can be expressed in one of two ways:

• Where users are in [segment name]: Will filter your query row to only include users who are also in the selected segment.
• Where users are not in [segment name]: Will filter your query row to only include users who are not in the selected segment.

Group by

Group by clauses, also referred to as “breakouts,” allow you to segment data based on event properties, user properties and now user segments to better understand its context. In the case of user segments, only two values will be expressed when a “By” clause is selected:

• [Query row name]: in [segment name]: Only includes users who are also in the selected segment.
• [Query row name]: not in [segment name]: Only includes users who are not in the selected segment.

Manage user segments

To manage user segments, click Settings in the navigation bar, then select “User Segments.” Here, you will see all of the user segments created and saved by members of your project.

• Segment Name: A descriptive name. Analytics recommends that the name be easily understood by any user within your organization.
• Description: Additional context and notes. For example, describing how this user segment should be used or providing business-specific context. The description appears in the data dictionary, available within each tool.
• Category: The category that your segment belongs to.
• Segment ID: A unique ID for use with the User Segments Export API.
• Type: One-time or daily. A one-time user segment is never updated. It contains only the users that meet a set of fixed criteria. A daily user segment is updated daily to include all users that meet a set of relative criteria. Users may enter or exit a daily user segment as it updates over time.
• Creator: The user who created the user segment.
• Created (Time Zone): The time zone in which the user segment was created.

Hover over a user segment to view two additional options:

• Open Query: Opens the original query that defines the cohort within the relevant Analytics tool.
• View Users: Opens a list of users included in the user segment within the Users tool.