How does karma plugin count visits

[julianhopkins]

Hi, I was wondering how does the 'Popular Entries' plugin, that uses karma, count visits?

My Sitemeter counter says that I have had a total of 108,099 visits on the blog, but the most popular post has apparently had 123,775 visits. I don't think the usual distinction of page views and visits counts, as the post can only have one visitor counting also simultaneously as one page view. I suppose.

Any help would be appreciated. It's kind of important because I have used my blog for some research, and I'm using this as an example of how permalinks and search engines can do more for a blog (my one anyway) than regular updates etc.

I just want to be sure I'm comparing apples with apples (between Sitemeter and karma).

Thanks for your help,
Julian

[garvinhicking]

Hi!

The "visits" database column is updated for each entry when it is being viewed through:

- (Any) detail permalink of an entry, like /archives/123-entry.html. Note that everytime someone posts a comment (OR SPAM!!!) to an entry, this is not counted as a visit because it only applies when someone gets the detail Link through a HTTP GET request (HTTP POSTs are NOT counted)

- When someone subscribes/unsubscribes through a comment on a detail entry page

A visit is also NOT counted when ?serendipity[adminAction] or ?serendipity[karmaVote] is set in the URL, which occurs by either previwing an entry in the admin interface, or voting on an entry.

So when one users clicks your detail page 5 times, it's 5 visits, not 1.

Sadly I don't know how SiteMeter counts...

Regards,
Garvin

[julianhopkins]

Thanks, I'm not sure if I understand all of that, but I guess the thing I was thinking was that maybe it was registering 'hits' (i.e. all the objects on the page and so on), which isn't very useful normally.

Sitemeter says it registers 'visits' (anyone on the site for less than a 30 minute stretch), and 'views' each page viewed. Still dunno why there's a difference though... anyway, thanks for your help!