What does a 'bounce' refer to in web analytics?

In web analytics, a 'bounce' specifically refers to a situation where a user visits a webpage, interacts minimally—often through a single action, such as viewing that page—and then leaves without engaging further or navigating to additional pages on the site. This metric is crucial because it provides insight into user engagement on a website. A high bounce rate may indicate that visitors are not finding what they expect or are engaged in the content.

The concept of bounce primarily centers on the idea of a visitor's interaction being limited to just one page view. This is important for understanding visitor behavior and evaluating website performance. Higher bounce rates might suggest the need for a more compelling user experience, better-targeted content, or enhanced navigation options to encourage further exploration of the site.

In contrast, submitting a survey or engaging with multiple videos indicates sustained interaction with the content, which would not classify as a bounce. Similarly, navigating through several pages reflects active engagement with the site, also excluding those users from being categorized as 'bouncers.' Hence, the definition of 'bounce' is very specifically tied to that single page visit without further interaction.