When does Google Analytics tracking code send a pageview hit?

The tracking code in Google Analytics is designed to send a pageview hit every time a user loads a webpage. This means that each time a visitor navigates to a new page on your site, the code detects the page load and sends a request to the Google Analytics servers to record that pageview.

By capturing this data, Google Analytics enables website owners to track user behavior, analyze traffic patterns, and understand how visitors are interacting with their content. Each pageview hit contributes to the overall data that helps in measuring key performance indicators and optimizing the website for better user engagement.

In contrast, actions like clicking a video, adding an item to a shopping cart, or performing a search do not automatically trigger a pageview hit because they are typically tracked through events, which require additional configuration to capture specific user interactions rather than mere page loads.