---
title: "Comparison"
slug: "comparison"
updated: 2024-11-22T15:44:33Z
published: 2024-11-22T15:44:33Z
canonical: "docs.mapp.com/comparison"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.mapp.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Comparison

The **Comparison** view in Mapp Intelligence allows you to analyze differences across either **time frames** or **segments**, providing insights into trends and user behavior. You must select the type of comparison—**time frames** or **segments**—as they cannot be mixed within a single analysis. This ensures clarity and meaningful results for your analysis.

**Key Features**

1. **Two Types of Comparison**:
  1. **Time Frame Comparison**: Analyze and compare data across different time periods. Examples include:
    1. Last week vs. the week before.
    2. A month vs. the same month last year.
    3. Custom time frames, such as **Black Friday to Cyber Monday this year vs. the same period last year**, allowing you to compare performance during critical e-commerce sales periods that vary annually.
  2. **Segment Comparison**: Compare predefined segments (saved filters) to evaluate differences between user groups. Examples include:
    1. **New vs. Returning Users**: Understand differences in engagement or conversion rates.
    2. **Loyal vs. Non-Loyal Clients**: Measure how repeat customers interact compared to first-time buyers.
    3. **Desktop vs. Mobile Users**: Analyze performance across devices.
2. **Flexible Comparison Configurations**:
  - Compare multiple time frames or segments simultaneously (e.g., last week, the week before, and the week prior to that).
  - Analyze up to **five metrics** side-by-side for deeper insights.
  - Tailor your comparison to suit specific use cases and uncover trends across multiple dimensions.
3. **Comparison Metrics**:
  - Both the **actual values** (e.g., visits, conversions) and **comparison metrics** (percentage changes) are displayed.
  - Customize the output to show:
  - The percentage change only.
  - Both percentage and absolute changes.
4. **Improved Visibility Options**:
  - Use the expand/collapse symbol in the comparison view to hide or display specific elements.
  - Simplify the visualization to focus on what matters most.

---

## Understanding the Comparison Metric

The comparison metric (percentage change) is calculated using the **right column** as the reference value. This shows how much the left column value has changed relative to the reference.

```plaintext
Formula:

((Left Column Value - Right Column Value) / Right Column Value) × 100
```

**Example Calculation**:

| Visits |
| --- |
| Previous week | Week before previous week | Percentage Change |
| 5000 | 4500 | ((5,000 - 4,500) / 4,500) × 100 = +11.1% |

This calculation ensures that the right column serves as the baseline for comparison, helping you assess changes effectively.

---

## **Example: Comparing Date Ranges**

To demonstrate how to use the **Comparison view**, let’s take a practical example using the **Device Class Analysis**:

**Scenario**: You want to compare visits and conversion rates between last week and the week before to analyze how device performance has changed over time.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/554b9b98-6720-4d8b-9919-c7b203d72648/Images/Documentation/2024-11 Comparison.gif)

### **Step-by-Step Guide**

1. Open the **Device Class Analysis** (*Visitors > Technology > Device Class*)
2. Choose the **relevant metrics**, such as “Visits” and “Conversion Rate %”
3. **Activate the Comparison View**: Switch to the **Comparison icon** in the top menu.
4. Comparison **Configuration**:
  1. **Select the Comparison Type**: Choose **Compare Date Ranges**.
  2. **Set the Date Ranges**: Use the calendar to select:

> [!NOTE]
> **Note**: If you plan to save this analysis in a report or via bookmarks, it is recommended to use **dynamic time ranges** (e.g., “Last Week”) instead of fixed dates. Dynamic time ranges will automatically update, ensuring the analysis reflects the relevant time periods each time you view it.
    1. **Previous week** as the first range.
    2. **Week before previous week** as the second range.
5. **Review the Results**: The comparison table will display:
  - The actual values for each metric (Visits and Conversion Rate) for both time ranges.
  - A calculated comparison value showing the percentage change.