Understanding product analytics tables (users, events, sessions, orders)

Product analytics data is stored in tables that capture how users interact with a digital product. Each table represents a different aspect of user behavior, such as who the users are, what actions they take, how they interact during a session, and whether they complete transactions.

In product and growth analytics, four core tables are commonly used:

• users
• events
• sessions
• orders

Each table serves a specific purpose:

• The users table stores information about who the users are (signup date, device, acquisition channel)
• The events table records every action taken by users (logins, clicks, feature usage)
• The sessions table captures user visits and engagement over time
• The orders table stores transactions and conversions made by users

For beginners, the goal is to:

• Understand what each table represents
• Identify key columns such as user_id, event_name, session_id, and order_id
• Recognize how user behavior is captured across multiple tables
• Learn how these tables support product and growth decisions

• User profiles and signup information
• User activity through events
• Session-level engagement
• Purchases and conversions

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The Basic Pattern

SELECT column_name
FROM table_name;
  

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Examples

Example 1 — View User Information

Example 2 — View Event Activity

Example 3 — View Session Details

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Practice Tasks (Your Turn!)

Task 1

View the user ID, country, and plan type from the users table.

Task 2

View the event name and page name from the events table.

Task 3

View the session ID and traffic source from the sessions table.