---
title: Tracking Custom Events in Google Analytics
hide_title: true
---
# Tracking custom events in Google Analytics

## What you will learn in this guide

This guide will take you through the process of setting up and tracking custom events in Google Analytics. It is recommended that you take a look through the [setup guide](/library/modules/google-analytics/guides/setting-up-google-analytics) before reading this one.

## Overview

We will learn about the following things:

-   Sending static data
-   Sending dynamic data based on user input

## Sending static data

To send custom events we use the **Send Google Analytics Data** node.

The **Send Google Analytics Data** node is built on top of Google's own `gtag` function, meaning that all _Google Analytics 4_ documentation you see that uses `gtag` can be directly copied and pasted into the node.

In Google's own documentation on [sending events](https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/11147304) we can find the following code in the section named "Send an event":

<!-- prettier-ignore-start -->
```html
<script>
    gtag("event", "publish", {
        role: "Writer",
    })
</script>
```
<!-- prettier-ignore-end -->

We can copy the data passed to the gtag function and paste it directly into the <span className="ndl-data">Gtag Tracking Data</span> input in the **Property Panel** for the **Send Google Analytics Data** node, like so:

<div className="ndl-image-with-background">

![](/library/modules/google-analytics/guides/tracking-custom-events/paste-code.png)

</div>

We can now submit the data to Google by sending a signal to the nodes <span className="ndl-signal">Do</span> input.

<div className="ndl-image-with-background l">

![](/library/modules/google-analytics/guides/tracking-custom-events/submit-data.png)

</div>

We have now successfully tracked our first custom event!

## Sending dynamic data based on user input

In some cases we want to provide more in depth data that might be dependent on specific user input. In this case we can use the **String Format** node.

Let's build a small app that tracks the user's favourite type of noodle dish. We'll use a **Text Input** and a **Button** to build a tiny form.

<div className="ndl-image-with-background l">

![](/library/modules/google-analytics/guides/tracking-custom-events/form.png)

</div>

We are now ready to add the tracking.

Create a **String Format** node and open up it's **Property Panel**. In the <span className="ndl-data">Format</span> input we can now write our custom event.

<!-- prettier-ignore-start -->
```js
    "event", "submitted_dish", {"dish": "{userDish}"}
```
<!-- prettier-ignore-end -->

The `{userDish}` part of this code will create an input named <span className="ndl-data">userDish</span> on this node. We can now send the <span className="ndl-data">Text</span> from **Text Input** to the <span className="ndl-data">userDish</span> input on **String Format**.

<div className="ndl-image-with-background l">

![](/library/modules/google-analytics/guides/tracking-custom-events/string-format-connected.png)

</div>

:::caution
It is **very important** that the `{userDish}` is in quotation marks if the value is a <span className="ndl-data">string</span>, otherwise the tracking will fail. <span className="ndl-data">Numbers</span> can be unquoted.
:::

Now we need to send this data to Google. Create a **Send Google Analytics Data** node, and connect the **String Format** <span className="ndl-data">Formatted</span> output to the **Send Google Analytics Data** <span className="ndl-data">Gtag Tracking Data</span> input, and the **Button** <span className="ndl-signal">Click</span> output to the **Send Google Analytics Data** <span className="ndl-signal">Do</span> input. We will also connect the <span className="ndl-signal">Data Sent</span> output from **Send Google Analytics Data** to the **Text Input** <span className="ndl-signal">Clear</span>, to visually indicate that the data has been sent.

<div className="ndl-image-with-background l">

![](/library/modules/google-analytics/guides/tracking-custom-events/sending-data.png)

</div>

We have now successfully tracked the users favourite noodle dish! Hop on into the Google Analytics Reports view and use this knowledge responsibly.