Real User Monitoring or RUM is an enterprise-level performance monitoring system that records transactions from a website or an application. It is a passive monitoring system that relies on different web monitoring services. It continuously observes and tracks functionality, availability, responsiveness, and overall performance. That is why it is also known as real user metrics or end-user experience monitoring (EUM).
The primary function of RUM is gauging user experience directly when users browse your site or application. It provides real-time performance data to your company and is a vital element of application performance management.
RUM can be categorized into two primary types – bottom-up and top-down.
The first relies on recording server data and working on the reconstruction of the user experience. On the other hand, the second one is client-side and tracks and records user experience.
In this article, you will read about three important things about Real User Monitoring.
You’ll use RUM for two main reasons:
To make sure you’re collecting the right kinds of data about your visitors, so you can understand their needs better and improve the experience for everyone involved.
To help you make changes to your website based on what you learn from RUM. This can help you reduce bounce rates and improve engagement with your content.
How Does the Process Work?
Real User Monitoring uses the help of technology to directly collect a site or app performance metrics through the end user’s browser. It injects a code into the application to collect metrics while running and is used by the user.
It embeds a tiny amount of JavaScript code in each page, thus collecting data from every user as they click, scroll, exit, or in any way, they use the page. This collected data is then sent back for analysis.
With the help of RUM solutions, companies can generate different reports having different data. The data is usually represented as charts, bars, graphs, etc., thus making it easier to understand by everyone.
Can Real User Monitoring be combined with Synthetic Monitoring?
Real User Monitoring and Synthetic Monitoring have two diverse approaches to web monitoring.
RUM has a passive approach to web monitoring, which means it relies on certain services to observe and track the system in the background. Unlike Synthetic Monitoring, it never rests as it continuously collects data from every user.
By contrast, Synthetic Monitoring is a type of active web monitoring system. In this one, behavioral scripts are deployed into the browser. These scripts simulate the exact path the end user follows on the website. Sites with high traffic benefit from this monitoring process.
If asked about combining RUM with Synthetic Monitoring, yes, it can be done. In fact, different third-party service providers provide a combined solution of the two web monitoring processes for more power output.
The Key Benefits of Real User Monitoring
The web monitoring system can help identify how users use a site or an application. It offers real-time measurements of key targets by tracking and recording actual user visits. Identification of problems becomes easier with RUM working in its way. The process can also replay user sessions to detect hidden problems.
Besides that, it can also detect issues at the lower levels of a website. It detects them easily, even when they are intermittent.
Final Words
Having the performance data in hand can help companies in many ways. It is like having agents among the public who provide insights and essential information on how a site or app is performing. For enterprises, these insights are very crucial to providing optimum user experience.