---
description: >-
  Detailed technical documentation on sending events to Google Analytics 4 using
  the RudderStack Web Device mode.
---

# Device Mode

RudderStack lets you send your event data to Google Analytics 4 destination via the device mode using the native web SDK. It supports the `gtag` way of tagging in websites in the device mode.

You need to select `gtag.js` as the **Client Type** and enable **Use device-mode to send events** in the Rudderstack dashboard to send events via the device mode. For more information on device mode settings in the Rudderstack dashboard, refer to the [Setting up Google Analytics 4](https://www.rudderstack.com/docs/destinations/analytics/google-analytics-4/#setting-up-google-analytics-4-in-rudderstack) guide.

For more information on sending events via the device mode, refer to the [RudderStack connection modes](https://rudderstack.com/docs/rudderstack-cloud/rudderstack-connection-modes/) guide.

Find the open-source JavaScript SDK code for this destination in our [GitHub repository](https://github.com/rudderlabs/rudder-sdk-js/tree/production/integrations/GA4).

## Identify

The [`identify`](https://rudderstack.com/docs/rudderstack-api/api-specification/rudderstack-spec/identify/) call lets you identify a visiting user and associate them to their actions. It also lets you record the traits about them like their name, email address, etc.

User-ID is an advanced feature that lets GA4 present a cross-device, cross-platform view of your customers' behavior. Google Analytics 4 uses `userId` and `deviceId` (GA's `cid` value from Universal Analytics terminology) to identify users.

A sample `identify` call is as shown:

```javascript
rudderanalytics.identify("1hKOmRA4el9Zt1WSfVJIVo4GRlm", {
  name: "Alex Keener",
  email: "alex@example.com",
})
```

In the above snippet, the `userId` will be set to `1hKOmRA4el9Zt1WSfVJIVo4GRlm` for Google Analytics and the name and email will be set as `user_properties`.

## Page

The [`page`](https://www.rudderstack.com/docs/rudderstack-api/api-specification/rudderstack-spec/page/) call lets you record your website's page views with any additional relevant information about the viewed page.

Google Analytics 4 `gtag` sends a `page_view` event to Google Analytics by default every-time it is loaded. You can also send `page_view` event to Google Analytics whenever you make an explicit `page()` call to RudderStack SDK.

RudderStack sends the following properties by default:

* `path` mapped to `page_location`
* `title` mapped to `page_title`
* `referrer` mapped to `page_referrer`

You can also make `page()` call with any custom and standard properties as shown below:

```javascript
rudderanalytics.page({
  path: "/test_browser.html",
  url: "http://example.com/test_browser.html?param1=true",
  title: "Page Load",
  search: "?param1=true",
  referrer: "referrer",
})
```

## Track

The [`track`](https://www.rudderstack.com/docs/rudderstack-api/api-specification/rudderstack-spec/track/) call lets you capture user events along with the properties associated with them.

A sample `track` call is as shown:

```javascript
rudderanalytics.track("Track me")
```

RudderStack SDK sends the track event name and any properties as custom properties to Google Analytics 4.

RudderStack SDK flattens the properties that are nested and not standard Google Analytics 4 properties before sending them to Google Analytics.

There are limits on the number of custom properties per event that can be sent to Google Analytics 4. The RudderStack SDK **`does not drop`** the payload based on these limits. If the events are don't show up in the debug view or in the Google Analytics dashboard reports, refer to [Google support page](https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/9267744?hl=en) to know more about the collection limits.

## E-Commerce

RudderStack supports e-commerce tracking for Google Analytics 4. Use the [RudderStack e-commerce spec](https://rudderstack.com/docs/rudderstack-api/api-specification/rudderstack-ecommerce-events-specification/) for sending events while instrumenting your site with the RudderStack SDK.

Below are some examples of the track event names that are passed to Google Analytics 4-specific e-commerce event name:

| RudderStack event name    | Google Analytics 4 event name |
| ------------------------- | ----------------------------- |
| Products Searched         | `search`                      |
| Product List Viewed       | `view_item_list`              |
| Promotion Viewed          | `view_promotion`              |
| Product Clicked           | `select_item`                 |
| Product Added To Wishlist | `add_to_wishlist`             |
| Product Added             | `add_to_cart`                 |
| Cart Shared               | `share`                       |
| Checkout Started          | `begin_checkout`              |
| Order Completed           | `purchase`                    |

For each product in the order, there must be an `id` and `name` associated. More info on Google Analytics 4 e-commerce event and corresponding properties can be found [here](https://developers.google.com/gtagjs/reference/ga4-events#view_item_list).

## Contact us

For queries on any of the sections covered in this guide, you can [contact us](mailto:%20docs@rudderstack.com) or start a conversation in our [Slack](https://rudderstack.com/join-rudderstack-slack-community) community.
