Test Google Analytics on Localhost

Question

I need to test some custom firing events using Google Analytics. I'd like to test in a local environment.

I've set up my test site using apache with server name: my-ga-test.localhost/

According to Can you test google analytics on a localhost address? and Google Analytics docs, I'm able to adjust my GA code to use:

ga('create', 'UA-XXXX-Y', {
  'cookieDomain': 'none'
});

I tried to set up a new account to get a tracking ID for this site, but I'm getting the following error:

URL ends with an invalid top-level domain name

enter image description here

How do I generate the code using localhost domain so I can alter the tracking ID code to put on my localhost?

R u owning the domain? Because I am also the owner of the same domain. — Sudip Pal, Jun 01 '15 at 19:50

score 44 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 01 '15 at 19:57

44

The "Website URL" field when creating a new Google Analytics property does not have to be the same as the actual URL that's used in production. It's primarily used for resolving relative links, not for validating hits.

Just change it to something else (like example.com), and everything should work fine.

answered Jun 01 '15 at 19:57

Philip Walton

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What if I run my web application both in local & production server simulatenously? – user3595632 Dec 22 '16 at 11:14
@user3595632 it doesn't matter, it will work just fine. – Philip Walton Dec 22 '16 at 19:59
@Phillip Walton Would it be getting data from both? – user3595632 Dec 22 '16 at 23:30
1

@user3595632 you should start a separate question for that since it's unrelated to the original question asked here. – Philip Walton Dec 23 '16 at 05:50
2

If you have your application running in development and production, you are better off setting up two views, Site and Site test, and when you call your analytics.js with ```UA-XXXX-Y```, check for the environment and use the proper code. Don't pollute your production data with development data. – Mugur 'Bud' Chirica Mar 23 '17 at 18:12

score 4 · Answer 2 · answered Dec 09 '16 at 15:34

4

I do not recommend the above answer.

I believe the best practice is to use the Analytics Debug js on your localhost. Debug prints in console EVERYTHING is doing, including firing events. That way you can check if your code is working or not without sending tracking info to Analytics on Localhost (which makes no sense).

Find out more here :)

answered Dec 09 '16 at 15:34

JStriedinger

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This question is specifically about the "Website URL" field when creating a new Account or Property. It has nothing to do with the debug version of `analytics.js` – Philip Walton Dec 12 '16 at 16:28
I think he created a test view, in which case is okay to have that for testing. From my experience I got numerous insights from having just a testing view (I do use Analytics Debug js as well). – Mugur 'Bud' Chirica Mar 23 '17 at 18:09
And also how do you enter `UA-XXXXX-Y` without going through this step? Analytics Debug JS also needs it – Hafiz Temuri Nov 12 '19 at 15:24

Test Google Analytics on Localhost

2 Answers2

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