Lies, damned lies, and statistics

Any good web hosting service will provide, at no extra cost, a real time web site statistic package. If you don't have one you are missing a useful tool. The two most popular are Http://www.mrunix.net/webalizer/ and http://www.analog.cx/. Web site requests are recorded in a web log which indicates where the request originated, what "files" (pages and images) were looked at, and which links were used to enter and leave the site. Date and time of the request is noted, files named, and the URL (address of the visitor's computer) is recorded

The numbers are only approximate, but with thorough knowledge of one's web site one can determine the pattern of web site usage. The log records number of requests, name of file, time and date, URL, entry and exit pages. The data collected is limited, due to "caching" in the browser and at the ISP server, but can still useful.

The statistical package uses the following terms: HITS: represent total number of REQUESTS. FILES represent the total number of hits (requests) that actually send something back to the user. SITES: number of unique hosts that have made requests to the server. VISIT is when a remote site makes a request for a page on your server for the first time. PAGES are the URLs which represent a page (generally end in .html or .htm or .cgi). REFERRERS are the URL which lead a user to your server. SEARCH STRINGS: are the phrases words people have used to find your site. USER AGENTS are fancy names for browsers. (such as Internet Explorer, Netscape). ENTRY pages are the page first requested when a visit is made. EXIT pages are the last requested page before the visitor leaves.