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Вивчайте Understanding Sessionized Data | Sessionized Data Fundamentals
SQL for Product Analysts

bookUnderstanding Sessionized Data

To understand how users interact with digital products, you need a way to organize and analyze their activity over time. This is where sessionized data comes in. Sessionized data is a method of grouping user actions into distinct sessions—periods of continuous activity within your app or website. In product analytics, sessionized data helps you answer questions like: How long do users stay engaged? What devices do they use? How often do they return? These insights are critical for measuring engagement, retention, and the overall success of your product.

When working with sessionized data in SQL, you typically use a dedicated table to store information about each session. This table records details such as when a session began and ended, which user it belongs to, and the device used during the session. Analysts rely on this structure to measure user engagement and to link behavioral patterns to specific users or user segments.

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CREATE TABLE sessions ( session_id INT PRIMARY KEY, user_id INT NOT NULL, session_start TIMESTAMP NOT NULL, session_end TIMESTAMP NOT NULL, device_type VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL, FOREIGN KEY (user_id) REFERENCES users(user_id) );
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The sessions table is central to tracking user activity in a sessionized format. Each column in this table serves a specific purpose:

  • session_id: Uniquely identifies each session;
  • user_id: Links the session to a specific user in the users table;
  • session_start: Records the exact time when the session began;
  • session_end: Captures when the session ended, allowing you to calculate session duration;
  • device_type: Shows which device (desktop, mobile, tablet, etc.) was used during the session.

By structuring your data this way, you can easily analyze user behavior over time, compare activity across devices, and connect sessions to user profiles for deeper insights.

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SELECT u.name, s.session_start, s.session_end FROM users u JOIN sessions s ON u.user_id = s.user_id;
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This query demonstrates how to combine information from the users and sessions tables. By joining these tables on the user_id column, you can retrieve each user's name alongside the start and end times of their sessions. The JOIN clause ensures that every session is matched with the correct user, making it possible to analyze session activity in the context of user demographics or signup dates. This approach allows you to answer questions such as which users are most active, when they use your product, and how their engagement patterns differ.

Note
Definition

Session is a period of continuous user activity within an app or website.

1. What is the primary purpose of sessionized data in product analytics?

2. Which column in the sessions table indicates when a session started?

3. Why is it important to link sessions to users in analytics?

question mark

What is the primary purpose of sessionized data in product analytics?

Select the correct answer

question mark

Which column in the sessions table indicates when a session started?

Select the correct answer

question mark

Why is it important to link sessions to users in analytics?

Select the correct answer

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bookUnderstanding Sessionized Data

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To understand how users interact with digital products, you need a way to organize and analyze their activity over time. This is where sessionized data comes in. Sessionized data is a method of grouping user actions into distinct sessions—periods of continuous activity within your app or website. In product analytics, sessionized data helps you answer questions like: How long do users stay engaged? What devices do they use? How often do they return? These insights are critical for measuring engagement, retention, and the overall success of your product.

When working with sessionized data in SQL, you typically use a dedicated table to store information about each session. This table records details such as when a session began and ended, which user it belongs to, and the device used during the session. Analysts rely on this structure to measure user engagement and to link behavioral patterns to specific users or user segments.

12345678
CREATE TABLE sessions ( session_id INT PRIMARY KEY, user_id INT NOT NULL, session_start TIMESTAMP NOT NULL, session_end TIMESTAMP NOT NULL, device_type VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL, FOREIGN KEY (user_id) REFERENCES users(user_id) );
copy

The sessions table is central to tracking user activity in a sessionized format. Each column in this table serves a specific purpose:

  • session_id: Uniquely identifies each session;
  • user_id: Links the session to a specific user in the users table;
  • session_start: Records the exact time when the session began;
  • session_end: Captures when the session ended, allowing you to calculate session duration;
  • device_type: Shows which device (desktop, mobile, tablet, etc.) was used during the session.

By structuring your data this way, you can easily analyze user behavior over time, compare activity across devices, and connect sessions to user profiles for deeper insights.

1234
SELECT u.name, s.session_start, s.session_end FROM users u JOIN sessions s ON u.user_id = s.user_id;
copy

This query demonstrates how to combine information from the users and sessions tables. By joining these tables on the user_id column, you can retrieve each user's name alongside the start and end times of their sessions. The JOIN clause ensures that every session is matched with the correct user, making it possible to analyze session activity in the context of user demographics or signup dates. This approach allows you to answer questions such as which users are most active, when they use your product, and how their engagement patterns differ.

Note
Definition

Session is a period of continuous user activity within an app or website.

1. What is the primary purpose of sessionized data in product analytics?

2. Which column in the sessions table indicates when a session started?

3. Why is it important to link sessions to users in analytics?

question mark

What is the primary purpose of sessionized data in product analytics?

Select the correct answer

question mark

Which column in the sessions table indicates when a session started?

Select the correct answer

question mark

Why is it important to link sessions to users in analytics?

Select the correct answer

Все було зрозуміло?

Як ми можемо покращити це?

Дякуємо за ваш відгук!

Секція 1. Розділ 1
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