Glossary

In analytics, a user ID is a unique identifier assigned to each user interacting with your software product. An accurate way to track user behavior is to capture user IDs with every interaction. This method allows teams to analyze user actions and create more accurate customer profiles.

User IDs, such as email addresses, usernames, or randomly generated strings, can be created in multiple ways. However, not all user ID generation methods are equally efficient. For instance, email addresses or usernames may not be compatible with specific platforms. In this case, using unique ID generators like random strings is a better option.

Universal unique identifiers (UUIDs) are a type of user ID that consists of 128-bit numbers. UUIDs are globally unique, meaning there is almost no possibility of generating a duplicate user ID. They are generated by combining time stamps and random information.

UUIDs have some advantages over regular user IDs, such as being unique to other systems and not needing to be stored in a database. However, UUIDs can be challenging to read and remember for users. They are generally reserved for systems that require high levels of security, privacy, and uniqueness, such as financial systems.

Regarding analytics, user IDs play an essential role by providing insights into user behavior. They are used primarily to connect data points related to a specific user to build a complete picture of their journey across the software product and even throughout the conversion funnel. User IDs can monitor customer interactions, gather detailed insights about users’ preferences, and understand how different customer segments interact with the application.

Creating an accurate user ID structure is paramount to successful analytics. Teams should consider the specific data that needs to be captured and how the chosen user ID generation method will affect data analysis. Teams should always ensure that their chosen analytics platform supports the chosen user ID generation method.

Amplitude supports both user IDs and UUIDs for identifying users. User IDs identify specific users and track their behavior across the software product. At the same time, UUIDs provide high security, privacy, and accuracy in monitoring user activity without relying on databases. Amplitude allows teams to customize the format of their user IDs to capture better data points related to a specific user for more accurate insights into their journey. Additionally, Amplitude provides tools such as segmentation and cohorts that can be used with custom-defined User IDs or UUIDs to analyze different granularity levels within various customer base segments.