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Lære Session Duration and Device Analysis | Sessionized Data Fundamentals
SQL for Product Analysts

bookSession Duration and Device Analysis

Calculating how long users spend in each session is a core skill for product analysts. Understanding session duration helps you gauge user engagement, identify friction points, and prioritize product improvements. Device analysis adds another layer: knowing whether users prefer desktop, mobile, or tablet can uncover adoption trends, inform design priorities, and help target your product roadmap. Together, session duration and device usage patterns form the foundation for actionable product insights.

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-- Calculate session duration (in minutes) for each session SELECT session_id, user_id, session_start, session_end, device_type, EXTRACT(EPOCH FROM (session_end - session_start)) / 60 AS session_duration_minutes FROM sessions;
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The TIMESTAMPDIFF function is commonly used in SQL to calculate the difference between two timestamp values. When you specify the unit as MINUTE, TIMESTAMPDIFF(MINUTE, session_start, session_end) returns the total number of minutes between the start and end of a session. This approach gives you a precise measurement of how long each session lasted, which is crucial for analyzing engagement.

Note
Note
  • MySQL provides the TIMESTAMPDIFF function, allowing you to directly specify the time unit (such as minutes, hours, or days) in the function call.
  • PostgreSQL does not include TIMESTAMPDIFF. Instead, it calculates time differences using interval arithmetic and converts the result into the desired unit, typically by extracting the total number of seconds from the interval and then converting it to minutes or other units.
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-- Count sessions by device_type for comparison SELECT device_type, COUNT(*) AS session_count FROM sessions GROUP BY device_type;
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When you group sessions by device_type, you can compare how often users access your product on different platforms. This analysis helps you spot trends—such as a shift from desktop to mobile usage—or identify underperforming device categories. These trends can directly impact product decisions, such as where to focus design improvements or which platforms to prioritize for new features.

1. Which SQL function is commonly used to calculate the difference between two timestamps?

2. How can device_type data inform product development?

3. What does grouping by device_type reveal about user behavior?

question mark

Which SQL function is commonly used to calculate the difference between two timestamps?

Select the correct answer

question mark

How can device_type data inform product development?

Select the correct answer

question mark

What does grouping by device_type reveal about user behavior?

Select the correct answer

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Hvordan kan vi forbedre det?

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Seksjon 1. Kapittel 3

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Suggested prompts:

Can you show me how to calculate the average session duration by device type?

How can I identify which user spends the most time on the platform?

Can you help me visualize these session and device trends?

bookSession Duration and Device Analysis

Sveip for å vise menyen

Calculating how long users spend in each session is a core skill for product analysts. Understanding session duration helps you gauge user engagement, identify friction points, and prioritize product improvements. Device analysis adds another layer: knowing whether users prefer desktop, mobile, or tablet can uncover adoption trends, inform design priorities, and help target your product roadmap. Together, session duration and device usage patterns form the foundation for actionable product insights.

123456789
-- Calculate session duration (in minutes) for each session SELECT session_id, user_id, session_start, session_end, device_type, EXTRACT(EPOCH FROM (session_end - session_start)) / 60 AS session_duration_minutes FROM sessions;
copy

The TIMESTAMPDIFF function is commonly used in SQL to calculate the difference between two timestamp values. When you specify the unit as MINUTE, TIMESTAMPDIFF(MINUTE, session_start, session_end) returns the total number of minutes between the start and end of a session. This approach gives you a precise measurement of how long each session lasted, which is crucial for analyzing engagement.

Note
Note
  • MySQL provides the TIMESTAMPDIFF function, allowing you to directly specify the time unit (such as minutes, hours, or days) in the function call.
  • PostgreSQL does not include TIMESTAMPDIFF. Instead, it calculates time differences using interval arithmetic and converts the result into the desired unit, typically by extracting the total number of seconds from the interval and then converting it to minutes or other units.
12345
-- Count sessions by device_type for comparison SELECT device_type, COUNT(*) AS session_count FROM sessions GROUP BY device_type;
copy

When you group sessions by device_type, you can compare how often users access your product on different platforms. This analysis helps you spot trends—such as a shift from desktop to mobile usage—or identify underperforming device categories. These trends can directly impact product decisions, such as where to focus design improvements or which platforms to prioritize for new features.

1. Which SQL function is commonly used to calculate the difference between two timestamps?

2. How can device_type data inform product development?

3. What does grouping by device_type reveal about user behavior?

question mark

Which SQL function is commonly used to calculate the difference between two timestamps?

Select the correct answer

question mark

How can device_type data inform product development?

Select the correct answer

question mark

What does grouping by device_type reveal about user behavior?

Select the correct answer

Alt var klart?

Hvordan kan vi forbedre det?

Takk for tilbakemeldingene dine!

Seksjon 1. Kapittel 3
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