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What is the difference between log-based and browser-based visitor tracking?

April 26, 2017Browser-based difference Visitor

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What is the difference between log-based and browser-based visitor tracking?

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Log-based systems analyse data from server logs, whereas browser-based systems are based on a JavaScript or Java Applet which is installed on the website and stores the information on a remote server. Compared to log-based systems, browser-based systems are capable of acquiring remarkably more information on visitors and their browsers. A large number of pages are downloaded from a proxy server instead of a normal server, which is problematic for log-based systems, since server logs are unable to pick up information relating to proxy servers. As a result, incorrect log-based results on the number of visitors and page downloads are typically 10 – 40 % lower than the correct, browser-based measurement results. Furthermore, in log-based systems reports are typically updated once a day or once a week, whereas browser-based systems such as Snoobi are capable of real time reporting.