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Last updated: 27 Feb 2023

govuk_publishing_components: Google Analytics 4 event tracker

This script is intended for adding GA4 tracking to interactive elements such as buttons or details elements. It depends upon the main GA4 analytics code to function.

Basic use

<div data-module="ga4-event-tracker">
  <button data-ga4-event='{ "event_name": "select_content", "type": "something", "index": "0", "index_total": "1" }'>
    Click me
  </button>
</div>

The module is initialised on the parent element, but tracking only occurs when clicks happen:

  • on child elements that have a valid data-ga4-event attribute
  • on the parent if it has a valid data-ga4-event attribute

A valid data-ga4-event attribute is a JSON string that can be parsed into an object, that contains a recognised value for event_name (this is added automatically by the event tracker). Pushes to the dataLayer that do not include a valid event_name attribute will be ignored by Tag Manager.

In the example above, the following would be pushed to the dataLayer. Note that the schema automatically populates empty values, and that attributes not in the schema are ignored.

{
  'event': 'event_data',
  'event_data': {
    'event_name': 'select_content',
    'type': 'something',
    'url': null,
    'text': 'Click me',
    'index': {
      index_section: '0'
    },
    'index_total': '1',
    'section': null,
    'action': null,
    'external': null
  }
}

The value for text will be determined based on the text of the element, or a value can be passed to override this in the data-ga4-event attribute.

Advanced use

In some scenarios we use components that cannot be modified directly (i.e. unable to place the data-ga4-event attribute on the element as shown in the 'Basic use' section). In these cases, we attach the necessary data attributes for tracking by passing an argument containing our data attributes to the render method.

Many components already accept data attributes in this way (see the component guide for examples) but some, like the accordion, are more complicated.

Overview

To track clicks on the 'Show/hide all sections' accordion link, use the ga4_tracking option as shown.

<div data-module="ga4-event-tracker">
  <%= render 'govuk_publishing_components/components/accordion', {
    ga4_tracking: true,
    items: []
  } %>
</div>

Detailed guide

In some situations we want to track dynamic elements like the 'Show/hide all sections' links on accordions. This is complicated by the element being created and updated dynamically using JavaScript and the need to track the state of the element when clicked (to record whether it was opened or closed).

It is also complicated by the fact that the JavaScript that creates this element is imported from govuk-frontend and therefore can't be modified directly. In order to get attributes onto this link, we have to do the following.

  • Enable tracking for an accordion using the ga4_tracking option
  • the 'Show/hide all' link is created by govuk-frontend JavaScript
  • the accordion JavaScript checks for ga4-event-tracker
    • it adds data-ga4-event with the relevant GTM JSON to the 'Show/hide all' link
    • in the example above, the result will be data-ga4-event="{ "event_name": "select_content", "type": "accordion", index: "0", index_total: "0" }"
    • tracking will be activated by clicks on elements with a data-ga4-event attribute
    • it checks for an aria-expanded attribute, as the accordion will contain a data-ga4-expandable value. This sets the action property of the event_data object accordingly.
    • the current text of the clicked element is also recorded (this can be overridden to a non-dynamic value by including text in the attributes if required)

When a user clicks 'Show all sections' the following information is pushed to the dataLayer.

{
  'event': 'event_data',
  'event_data': {
    'event_name': 'select_content',
    'type': 'accordion',
    'text': 'Show all sections',
    'index': {
      index_section: '0'
    },
    'index-total': '5',
    'action': 'opened',
  }
}

When a user clicks 'Hide all sections' the following information is pushed to the dataLayer.

{
  'event': 'event_data',
  'event_data': {
    'event_name': 'select_content',
    'type': 'accordion',
    'text': 'Hide all sections',
    'index': {
      index_section: '0'
    },
    'index-total': '5',
    'action': 'closed',
  }
}