Accuracy of Google Analytics

[Gasta]

As you have to put the script near the end, just before the </body> , I wonder if all hits get counted, especially if a page takes long to load.

[apcwebmaster]

I might be wrong but I always thought that the entire source must be completely downloaded before anything is rendered, unlike page elements(images and stuff). Even still, there is the possiblility that once downloaded some browsers might handle scripts in a linear(top-down) fashion and some not.

edit: sorry that didn't really anaswer your question :P

[daedal]

I could only see it being a problem if you have a really slow loading site, in that case you should be working on that rather than worrying about stats.

I know it doesn't count all hits by looking at my stats, however generally I think its more to do with browsers rather than anything else.

[josico]

Originally Posted by apcwebmaster

I might be wrong but I always thought that the entire source must be completely downloaded before anything is rendered, unlike page elements(images and stuff). Even still, there is the possiblility that once downloaded some browsers might handle scripts in a linear(top-down) fashion and some not.

edit: sorry that didn't really anaswer your question :P

Browsers don't render the page / scripts until the whole pages is downloaded. So no, it won't matter where the script is physically on the page. And yes, if your server is that slow, you should be speaking with your provider. Servers nowadays shouldn't be that slow.

[thebes]

It wouldn't run the script though it people have js disabled. That's probably only a couple percent even with porn surfers. I guess if they leave the page extremely fast and have a slow connection, the script might not do its thing either... but then they aren't really worth counting imho.

[micho]

I think is accurate