Learn how Revisit captures user sessions and what data is recorded. This guide covers the recording process, struggle detection, replay features, and how to analyze session data.
How Session Recording Works
Revisit uses a lightweight JavaScript recorder that captures user interactions in real-time without affecting your website's performance. The recording process happens automatically once the tracking script is installed.
Recording Process
The recorder captures comprehensive user interaction data:
- DOM State: Complete page structure and all subsequent changes
- User Events: Mouse movements, clicks, scrolls, keyboard input, form interactions
- Navigation: Page visits, URL changes, and multi-tab sessions
- Performance: Page load times, resource loading, and JavaScript errors
- Network Activity: XHR/Fetch requests for debugging purposes
- Console Logs: Browser console messages, warnings, and errors
- Viewport Data: Window size, scroll position, and responsive behavior
Asset Management
Revisit automatically downloads and stores all website assets for perfect replay:
- Images: All images, icons, and graphics used on the page
- Stylesheets: CSS files with rewritten asset paths for local storage
- Fonts: Web fonts and typography resources
- Scripts: JavaScript files and dependencies
- Cross-origin Resources: External assets are downloaded and proxied
- Deduplication: Identical assets are stored only once across all recordings
- Versioning: SHA-256 hashing tracks asset versions and changes
Multi-tab Sessions
Revisit seamlessly handles complex user behavior across multiple browser tabs:
- Tab Switching: Records when users switch between tabs
- Session Continuity: Links all interactions within the same user session
- Independent Tracking: Each tab maintains its own event sequence
- Unified Timeline: All tab activities are combined into a single session view
- Replay Accuracy: Perfect reproduction of multi-tab user journeys
Struggle Detection
Revisit automatically detects user frustration patterns using advanced algorithms that analyze interaction sequences and timing patterns.
Rage Clicks
Detects when users click rapidly in the same area, indicating frustration:
- Detection Criteria: 3+ clicks within 800ms in a 40px radius
- Scoring: Higher scores for more clicks and lack of response
- Response Analysis: Checks for DOM changes, navigation, or network activity
- Timeline Markers: Shows exact timing and click positions
- Context: Identifies what element was being clicked repeatedly
Example: User clicks a button 5 times in 600ms with no page response = Rage Click detected
Dead Clicks
Identifies clicks that don't trigger any response from the website:
- Detection Window: 1000ms after click to detect response
- Response Check: Looks for DOM changes, navigation, network requests, or errors
- Scoring: Base score of 25 points for each dead click
- Position Tracking: Records exact click coordinates
- Element Context: Identifies what was clicked (button, link, etc.)
Example: User clicks a non-functional button, nothing happens for 2 seconds = Dead Click detected
Back-and-Forth Navigation
Detects when users repeatedly navigate between the same pages:
- Detection Window: 90 seconds to find navigation patterns
- Minimum Cycles: 2+ complete cycles between pages
- URL Normalization: Focuses on pathname, ignores query parameters
- Scoring: Higher scores for more cycles within the time window
- Pattern Analysis: Identifies specific page pairs causing confusion
Example: User navigates between /checkout and /cart 4 times in 2 minutes = Navigation Ping-pong detected
Replay Features
Revisit provides powerful replay capabilities that allow you to experience sessions exactly as users did, with advanced controls and analysis tools.
Timeline Controls
Precise control over session playback:
- Play/Pause: Start and stop playback at any point
- Seek: Jump to any timestamp with frame-accurate precision
- Speed Control: Adjust playback speed (0.5x to 2x)
- Progress Bar: Visual timeline with clickable navigation
- Keyboard Shortcuts: Spacebar to play/pause, arrow keys to seek
- Frame Accuracy: Exact reproduction of user interactions
Multi-tab Replay
Seamless replay of complex multi-tab sessions:
- Tab Switching: Automatic tab changes during replay
- Tab Timeline: Visual indicators for tab activity
- Focused Tab: Highlights the currently active tab
- Tab Navigation: Click to jump to specific tab activities
- Unified View: All tab activities in chronological order
Export & Sharing
Multiple ways to share and analyze session data:
- MP4 Export: Download session as video file for presentations
- Integration: Export to GitHub Issues and Jira tickets
- Data Export: Download raw session data for analysis
- Privacy Controls: Manage sharing permissions and access
Analysis Tools
Built-in tools for session analysis and debugging:
- Struggle Markers: Visual indicators for detected frustration points
- Event Timeline: Detailed log of all user interactions
- Network Monitor: Track API calls and resource loading
- Console Logs: View browser console messages and errors
- Performance Metrics: Page load times and resource performance
Session Analysis
Revisit provides comprehensive analysis of recorded sessions to help you understand user behavior and identify areas for improvement.
AI-Powered Insights
Automated analysis using advanced AI to identify patterns and issues:
- Behavioral Patterns: Identify common user journeys and pain points
- Issue Detection: Automatically flag problematic user experiences
- Summary Generation: AI-generated summaries of session highlights
- Recommendations: Actionable insights for improving user experience
- Trend Analysis: Identify patterns across multiple sessions
- Priority Scoring: Rank issues by severity and impact
Performance Monitoring
Track website performance and its impact on user experience:
- Page Load Times: Track how long pages take to load
- Resource Loading: Monitor images, scripts, and stylesheets
- JavaScript Errors: Capture and analyze runtime errors
- Network Requests: Track API calls and their performance
- Core Web Vitals: Monitor LCP, FID, and CLS metrics
- Performance Correlation: Link performance issues to user behavior
User Journey Mapping
Visualize and analyze complete user journeys:
- Drop-off Points: Identify where users abandon their journey
- Conversion Funnels: Analyze paths to key actions
- Optimization Opportunities: Identify areas for journey improvement
Next Steps
Now that you understand session recording, explore advanced features:
Need Help?
If you're having trouble with session recording or have questions about analysis, our support team is here to help.
Contact Support