Which tracking method does Google Analytics use to collect data?

Google Analytics primarily uses a JavaScript tracking code to collect data from websites. This tracking code is a snippet of JavaScript that is placed on the pages of a website. When visitors interact with the site, this code executes, sending information about their activity to Google Analytics servers. This allows for the collection of a wide range of data, including page views, sessions, user behaviors, and more.

The use of JavaScript is integral because it enables real-time data collection as users navigate through the site, thereby providing timely insights into user interactions. The dynamic nature of JavaScript also facilitates the capture of events and conversions, enhancing the richness of data collected.

Other tracking methods mentioned, such as HTML tracking tags or pixel-based tracking, though useful in specific contexts, do not describe the primary method used by Google Analytics. Server-side tracking methods can also be employed, but they are not the standard approach for data collection in Google Analytics, which relies significantly on client-side tracking through JavaScript.