Web log analysis - Based on the values contained in the log file, derives indicators about who, when and how a web server is visited.
In simple words how this works - webserver is the computer were the website is hosted. The server records all the details of a particular visit, everything is recorded and stored in a simple text file, which is very complex to understand for human eyes.
We then have to make use of log analysis tools/ software’s available in the market, these software understand the complex logs and present the same in simple tabular/graphical format. These software’s are called log analyzers or log analysis software’s.
Understanding the reports from these software’s and understanding what is happening on the site, what are the trends, what are the visitors doing on the site, were are they coming from and were are they going etc - it is very important to understand the user behavior on the site and this is log analysis.
Log analysis throws up light on some of the following -
Number of visits and number of unique visitors
Visits duration and last visits
Authenticated users, and last authenticated visits
Days of week and rush hours
Domains/countries of host's visitors
Hosts list
Most viewed, entry and exit pages
Files type
OS used
Browsers used
Robots
Search engines, key phrases and keywords used to find the analyzed web site
HTTP errors
Log analysis is something like post mortem we get to know what has happened so far and is historic information, but based on this we have to take corrective steps to make sure that same mistakes are not repeated or we repeat the good things we have done in past. It helps us to diagnose the health of website and make corrective decisions based on that.
