Optimizing Google Analytics Tracking Code (Revisited)

A few years ago, I analyzed the Google Analytics tracking code and provided a simpler, and cleaner version.

Since then, Google released a new version of the tracking code as part of the Universal Analytics Upgrade:

<script>
  (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){
  (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),
  m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)
  })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga');

  ga('create', 'UA-XXXXX-XX', 'auto');
  ga('send', 'pageview');
</script>

Again, Google is attempting to maximize compatibility so the tracking code would work on any page, regardless of the HTML structure.

Following the same analysis we can derive a simpler version that gives us more control and readability:

<script type="text/javascript">
  function setupGoogleAnalytics () {
    window.GoogleAnalyticsObject = 'ga';

    window.ga = window.ga || function () {
      window.ga.q.push(arguments);
    };

    window.ga.q = window.ga.q || [
      ['create', 'UA-XXXXX-XX', 'auto'],
      ['send', 'pageview']
    ];

    window.ga.l = new Date().getTime();
  }
</script>

<script type="text/javascript" src="//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js" async></script>