What are user segments?
Segments are dynamic groups of users defined by shared characteristics or behaviors. Unlike static lists, segments update automatically as user data changes — users enter and leave segments based on whether they currently match the criteria you define.
Segments are useful across analytics: filter dashboards to a specific group, compare conversion rates between segments, or understand how different user populations behave.
Building a segment
- Navigate to Segments in your analytics project.
- Click New Segment.
- Give your segment a descriptive name, such as "Power Users" or "Trial Users in US."
- Add one or more conditions (see below).
- Preview the segment to see how many users match.
- Click Save.
Condition types
Segments support two types of conditions:
User property conditions
Filter users by their profile properties. Examples:
- Plan equals "pro" — Users on the pro plan.
- Country equals "United States" — Users based in the US.
- Created date is after January 1, 2025 — Users who signed up recently.
Available operators depend on the property type: equals, does not equal, contains, greater than, less than, is set, and is not set.
Event conditions
Filter users by events they have or have not performed. Examples:
- Has performed "feature_activated" at least 5 times in the last 30 days — Active feature users.
- Has not performed "login" in the last 14 days — Inactive users at risk of churning.
- Has performed "purchase_completed" where amount is greater than 100 — High-value purchasers.
Event conditions let you specify a time window and a minimum count, giving you precise control over the behavior you are targeting.
Combining conditions with AND/OR
Most useful segments require multiple conditions. Userorbit supports both AND and OR logic:
- AND — The user must match all conditions. Example: Plan is "pro" AND has performed "dashboard_viewed" in the last 7 days. This finds active pro users.
- OR — The user must match at least one condition. Example: Country is "United States" OR country is "Canada." This finds North American users.
You can nest groups to create complex logic. For example: (Plan is "pro" OR plan is "enterprise") AND (has performed "export_completed" in the last 30 days). This finds paying users who actively export data.
Previewing and validating
Before saving a segment, use the preview to verify it captures the right users:
- Check the user count — does it seem reasonable for the criteria?
- Browse the sample users — do they match your expectations?
- If the count is zero, check your conditions for typos or overly restrictive filters.
Using segments
Once saved, segments can be used throughout Userorbit:
- Dashboard filters — Apply a segment to any dashboard to see metrics for that group only.
- Chart breakdowns — Compare two or more segments side by side in a chart.
- Funnel analysis — See how a specific segment moves through your conversion funnel.
- Cohort analysis — Combine segments with cohort views to understand retention for specific groups.
Managing segments
- Review your segments periodically — remove or update ones that are no longer relevant.
- Use clear naming conventions so your team can find and understand segments easily.
- Avoid creating overlapping segments that measure the same thing with slightly different criteria.