how does Mixpanels Identity resolution work

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Mixpanel's identity resolution works by linking different identifiers for a user to create a unified view of their behavior across devices and sessions. Here's an overview of how it functions:

1. Distinct ID: Mixpanel uses a "Distinct ID" as the primary identifier to uniquely track users in the system Identity Management Overview.

2. Anonymous and Known States: Users can be in anonymous (logged out) or identified (logged in) states. Mixpanel tracks both and allows linking them together Send Your Data: Implement Your Tracking Plan.

3. Device ID and User ID: Mixpanel uses $device_id for anonymous users and $user_id for identified users. When both are present in the same event for the first time, Mixpanel creates a mapping to merge them into an identity cluster Identifying Users (Simplified).

4. Identify Method: When a user logs in or signs up, you call the identify() method with the user's known identifier. This links the anonymous events to the known user Identifying Users (Simplified).

5. Identity Cluster: Mixpanel creates an identity cluster that includes all identifiers associated with a user. This allows tracking the same user across multiple devices and sessions Identifying Users (Original).

6. Reset Method: When a user logs out, you call the reset() method to clear local storage and generate a new $device_id. This prevents unintentional merging of multiple users sharing one device Identifying Users (Simplified).

7. Identity Resolution in Exports: For data exports, Mixpanel provides an identity mapping table to help recreate the identity clusters and accurately count unique users Schematized Export Pipeline.

By implementing these identity resolution techniques, Mixpanel allows you to track user behavior accurately across different states and devices, providing a comprehensive view of the user journey.

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