Understanding User ID vs Distinct ID in Mixpanel
What is the difference between user id vs distinct id in Mixpanel? Should i use user uuid for both, or should I use uuid for distinct id and email for user id?
What is the difference between user id vs distinct id in Mixpanel? Should i use user uuid for both, or should I use uuid for distinct id and email for user id?
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In Mixpanel, there's an important distinction between user ID and distinct ID. Let me explain the difference and provide recommendations based on the information from Mixpanel's documentation: 1. Distinct ID: The distinct ID is Mixpanel's internal unique identifier for a user. It's used to determine user uniqueness across devices and sessions Identity Management Overview. 2. User ID: The user ID ($user_id) is a unique identifier you assign to track a user across devices when the user is in an identified state Reserved Event Properties.As for your question about using UUID or email: - For distinct ID: It's recommended to use a UUID or a similar unique identifier. When a user is anonymous, Mixpanel's SDKs automatically generate a $device_id (which is typically a UUID) and use it as the distinct_id Identifying Users (Simplified).- For user ID: Mixpanel recommends using an ID that is unique to each user and does not change, such as a database ID. While using an email as the user ID is possible, it's not recommended because if the user changes their email, they would count as a separate user Identifying Users (Simplified) FAQ.Therefore, the best practice would be to use a UUID for the distinct ID (which is often handled automatically by Mixpanel's SDKs) and a persistent, unique identifier (like a database ID) for the user ID. Using email for the user ID is not recommended due to the potential for changes.
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While using an email as a user ID is possible if users are not allowed to change their email addresses, it's still generally recommended to use a UUID or another persistent unique identifier for the user ID in Mixpanel. Here's why: 1. Best Practice: Mixpanel recommends using an ID that is unique to each user and does not change, such as a database ID. Even if your current policy doesn't allow email changes, it's better to follow this best practice for long-term flexibility Identifying Users (Simplified) FAQ.2. Future-proofing: Your business policies might change in the future to allow email changes. Using a UUID from the start prevents the need for a complex migration later.3. Privacy Concerns: Using email addresses as identifiers can potentially expose personal information. A UUID is more privacy-friendly.4. Consistency: Using a UUID aligns with the distinct ID format, which is typically a UUID, making your identification system more consistent Identifying Users (Simplified).5. Flexibility: A UUID allows you to associate multiple email addresses with a single user if needed in the future (e.g., work and personal emails).Therefore, while using an email as a user ID could work if emails never change, it's still preferable to use a UUID or another persistent unique identifier for the user ID. This approach provides more flexibility and aligns better with Mixpanel's recommendations and best practices for identity management.
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