Heatmaps FAQs
Answers to common questions about heatmaps including setup, privacy, HIPAA compliance, and troubleshooting.
Heatmaps FAQs
Do I need to install anything extra?
No. Heatmaps activate automatically when session replay is configured. No additional scripts or setup needed.
Does it slow down my site?
No. Heatmap events are lightweight and batched with your existing events. No additional network requests are made.
Are heatmaps HIPAA-compliant?
Yes. No element text or user input is captured. All data flows through your first-party domain.
Do heatmaps work on authenticated (logged-in) pages?
Yes. The backdrop comes from a real session replay recording, so it works on any page your visitors reach — including pages behind login or personalization.
What if there's no session replay for a page?
The detail view falls back to a live-site backdrop automatically — it loads your current page and paints the overlays on top, so you can always read a heatmap. You can also switch to the live view manually when the recorded layout is stale. See Reading a Heatmap.
Can I see which exact element got clicked, not just the area?
Yes. The detail view ranks the page's elements by click count alongside the visual overlay. Add data-heatmap-id to give important elements stable, readable names in that ranking and in exports.
Can I compare two heatmaps?
Yes. Use Add comparison to view two heatmaps side by side — for example, mobile versus desktop or this month versus last month.
How do I export a heatmap?
Export from the detail view as a CSV (heatmap data, including element-level click counts) or a PNG image of the rendered view (backdrop plus overlay). Both reflect your active filters and date range.
What's the difference between a rage click and a dead click?
A rage click highlights a burst of repeated clicks in the same area over a short period. It can point to frustration, hesitation, or a control that is slower or less clear than visitors expect.
A dead click highlights a click that did not produce an obvious on-page response. It can help you review confusing layouts or unclear affordances, especially when you confirm the behavior in session replays.
Do heatmaps work with single-page applications?
Yes. The SDK detects SPA route changes automatically. No configuration needed.
How long is heatmap data retained?
Heatmap data follows the same retention policy as your account's event data.
Do heatmaps add to my bill?
No. Billing is based on unique visitor count, not the number of events. Heatmap interactions come from visitors you're already counting, so turning heatmaps on doesn't increase your visitor count or your bill.
What can I filter heatmaps by?
Filtering supports device type, date range, country, region, browser, and saved audience. All overlay layers update together when you change a filter.
Need Help?
Contact us at support@oursprivacy.com with any questions about heatmaps.
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