A user identifier or user ID is a piece of information that identifies a user and distinguishes them from other users. User identifiers apply to various legal and tech concepts.
According to GDPR, any information that can lead to the direct or indirect identification of an individual will be considered personal data. The types of identifiers include a name, an identification number, location data, or an online identifier (like an IP address or cookies). These identifiers refer to information about an individual’s tools, applications, or devices. If you collect personal data, you are subject to GDPR requirements.
User identifiers also play a significant role in analytics. Many analytics technologies can’t identify unique users if they use multiple devices across multiple sessions. Each time a user does this, a new user is counted. A unique user ID eliminates this issue, attributing all activity to one user in analytics reports.
More details about the user ID on the Piwik PRO help center and blog:
User identifier (user ID)
-
25 years of digital analytics with Brian Clifton: The real challenge for the future is to make sense of data
Organizations are becoming more and more aware of data-driven strategies, so understanding the complexities surrounding data quality, privacy, and technological advancements becomes crucial for their future success. They also need to rely on new tools, often supported by AI, to adapt to changes in the digital analytics field. Dive into the fourth and final episode…
-
Is Google Analytics HIPAA-compliant?
Disclaimer: This blog post is not legal advice. Piwik PRO provides privacy-friendly analytics software, but does not provide legal consultancy. If you’d like to make sure you’re in compliance with HIPAA guidelines, we encourage you to consult an attorney. SUMMARY Healthcare organizations use analytics platforms to collect and analyze data about their patients. The data…
Other definitions
Recent posts from Piwik PRO blog
- 25 years of digital analytics with Brian Clifton: The real challenge for the future is to make sense of data
- Is Google Analytics HIPAA-compliant?
- Everything you need to know about the New York Health Information Privacy Act (NYHIPA)
- Navigating the Norwegian E-Com Act 2025: How it Impacts Web Analytics and What Steps You Should Take
- Customer Data Platform is now available for all Piwik PRO users
- Unlock the power of customer data: A Piwik PRO data activation playbook
- Server-side tagging use cases: How can you benefit from data stream consolidation
- Unlocking the potential of digital analytics in finance and banking