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Apprendre Advanced Metrics with Window Functions | A/B Test Analysis and Window Functions
SQL for Product Analysts

bookAdvanced Metrics with Window Functions

As you deepen your skills with window functions in SQL, you unlock the ability to calculate advanced metrics that are essential for product analytics. These metrics include moving averages, percentiles, and retention curves, each providing a unique lens into user behavior and product performance. Moving averages help you smooth out short-term fluctuations and highlight longer-term trends in your data. Percentiles allow you to understand the distribution of values, such as purchase amounts or event frequencies, across different user groups. Retention curves reveal how well your product retains users over time. By mastering these advanced calculations, you can uncover richer insights and make more informed product decisions.

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SELECT event_date::date AS day, COUNT(*) AS daily_event_count, AVG(COUNT(*)) OVER ( ORDER BY event_date::date ROWS BETWEEN 6 PRECEDING AND CURRENT ROW ) AS moving_avg_7d FROM events GROUP BY event_date::date ORDER BY day;
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This query calculates a 7-day moving average of daily event counts. The logic works by first grouping events by their date and counting the number of events each day. The window function AVG(COUNT(*)) OVER (...) then takes the average of the current day's count and the counts from the previous six days, giving you a smooth trend line. This moving average is valuable for trend analysis because it reduces the noise from daily fluctuations, making it easier to spot meaningful changes in user activity.

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SELECT ab_group, PERCENTILE_CONT(0.9) WITHIN GROUP (ORDER BY value) AS p90_purchase_value FROM events JOIN users ON events.user_id = users.user_id WHERE event_type = 'purchase' GROUP BY ab_group;
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Advanced metrics, such as moving averages and percentiles, provide deeper context than simple counts or sums. Moving averages can reveal underlying trends that are not obvious from raw daily data, helping you identify periods of growth or decline. Percentiles, like the 90th percentile of purchase values, show you how top-performing users behave compared to the rest, which can guide targeted feature development or marketing efforts. Interpreting these metrics correctly is crucial—they can influence decisions on product improvements, A/B test evaluations, and resource allocation. By leveraging window functions for these calculations, product teams can move beyond surface-level analysis and make data-driven decisions with greater confidence.

1. What is a moving average and why is it useful?

2. How can percentiles be calculated using SQL?

3. What insights can advanced window functions provide to product teams?

question mark

What is a moving average and why is it useful?

Select the correct answer

question mark

How can percentiles be calculated using SQL?

Select the correct answer

question mark

What insights can advanced window functions provide to product teams?

Select the correct answer

Tout était clair ?

Comment pouvons-nous l'améliorer ?

Merci pour vos commentaires !

Section 4. Chapitre 5

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bookAdvanced Metrics with Window Functions

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As you deepen your skills with window functions in SQL, you unlock the ability to calculate advanced metrics that are essential for product analytics. These metrics include moving averages, percentiles, and retention curves, each providing a unique lens into user behavior and product performance. Moving averages help you smooth out short-term fluctuations and highlight longer-term trends in your data. Percentiles allow you to understand the distribution of values, such as purchase amounts or event frequencies, across different user groups. Retention curves reveal how well your product retains users over time. By mastering these advanced calculations, you can uncover richer insights and make more informed product decisions.

12345678910
SELECT event_date::date AS day, COUNT(*) AS daily_event_count, AVG(COUNT(*)) OVER ( ORDER BY event_date::date ROWS BETWEEN 6 PRECEDING AND CURRENT ROW ) AS moving_avg_7d FROM events GROUP BY event_date::date ORDER BY day;
copy

This query calculates a 7-day moving average of daily event counts. The logic works by first grouping events by their date and counting the number of events each day. The window function AVG(COUNT(*)) OVER (...) then takes the average of the current day's count and the counts from the previous six days, giving you a smooth trend line. This moving average is valuable for trend analysis because it reduces the noise from daily fluctuations, making it easier to spot meaningful changes in user activity.

1234567
SELECT ab_group, PERCENTILE_CONT(0.9) WITHIN GROUP (ORDER BY value) AS p90_purchase_value FROM events JOIN users ON events.user_id = users.user_id WHERE event_type = 'purchase' GROUP BY ab_group;
copy

Advanced metrics, such as moving averages and percentiles, provide deeper context than simple counts or sums. Moving averages can reveal underlying trends that are not obvious from raw daily data, helping you identify periods of growth or decline. Percentiles, like the 90th percentile of purchase values, show you how top-performing users behave compared to the rest, which can guide targeted feature development or marketing efforts. Interpreting these metrics correctly is crucial—they can influence decisions on product improvements, A/B test evaluations, and resource allocation. By leveraging window functions for these calculations, product teams can move beyond surface-level analysis and make data-driven decisions with greater confidence.

1. What is a moving average and why is it useful?

2. How can percentiles be calculated using SQL?

3. What insights can advanced window functions provide to product teams?

question mark

What is a moving average and why is it useful?

Select the correct answer

question mark

How can percentiles be calculated using SQL?

Select the correct answer

question mark

What insights can advanced window functions provide to product teams?

Select the correct answer

Tout était clair ?

Comment pouvons-nous l'améliorer ?

Merci pour vos commentaires !

Section 4. Chapitre 5
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