Valid dimension-metric combinations

Matomo’s Custom Reports provide the option to select dimensions and metrics when configuring a new report.

• Dimensions describe categorical data (e.g., Country, Page URL).
• Metrics measure numerical values (e.g., Visits, Pageviews).

However, not all dimension-metric combinations are valid in a single report. Each dimension and metric belongs to either the Visit-level or Action-level and the combination must be from the same scope to return valid results. Learn more about Visits and Action scopes.

Visit-Level Dimensions

Visit-based dimensions and metrics apply to the entire visit/session.

• Visitors (e.g., Visitor ID, Visit Duration, Days Since Last Visit)
• Visitor Location (e.g., Country, City, Continent)
• Acquisition (e.g., Ad Click ID, Campaign, Channel Type)

Action-Level Dimensions

Action-based dimensions and metrics measure individual interactions such as pageviews, downloads, events, outlinks, goals, forms, media, and ecommerce orders.

• Behaviour (e.g., Page URL, Page Title)
• Events (e.g., Event Category, Event Action, Event Name)
• Ecommerce (e.g., Product Name, Product SKU)
• Goals (e.g., Pageviews before Conversion, Overall Revenue)
• Forms (e.g.,Form Conversions, Form Views)
• Media (e.g., Media Title, Player Name, Impressions)

Some dimensions belong to different scopes or action types (page views, events, ecommerce), so a visit-level metric cannot be paired with an action-level dimension. Similarly, some metrics apply only to specific actions (e.g., Media Plays only works with Media-related dimensions).

Examples of incompatible dimension-metric combinations

Action Type: Pageviews

Invalid: Page URL + Number of Visits.
Visits is a visit-level metric, while Page URL is an action-level dimension. They belong to different scopes.
Valid: Page URL + Pageviews

Action Type: Event

Invalid: Event Category + Bounce Rate.
Bounce Rate applies to an entire visit, while Event Category is action-level (for individual events).
Valid: Event Category + Total Events

Action Type: Content (for content tracking)

Invalid: Page URL + Content Name.
Page URL/Title belong to the pageview action type, while Content Name is a content action type.
Valid: Content Name + Content Piece + Content Target

Action Type: Goal

Invalid: Download URL + Goal Revenue
Goal Revenue is tied to goal conversions (visit-level), while Download URL records file downloads (action-level).
Valid: Visit Converted A Goal + Revenue per goal

Action Type: ecommerceOrder

Invalid: Product Name + Pageviews.
Pageviews track page visits (action-level), while Product Name belongs to Ecommerce interactions.
Valid: Product Name + Revenue

Action Type: Media

Invalid: Referrer Name + Media Plays
Media Plays measures video/audio plays (action-level), but Referrer Type is visit-level.
Valid: Media Title + Media Plays

Summary

• Visit-level metrics cannot be combined with action-level dimensions, and action-level metrics cannot be combined with visit-level dimensions.
• Action types have specific dimensions and metrics (e.g., media and pageviews), so do not mix them.
• Check the selected action type before combining dimensions and metrics.
• When you create a Custom Report, use the Preview Report button to verify your report configuration based on data for the current day.

For a list of available dimensions and metrics please see here