An event taxonomy is the shared language between product behavior and analysis. When it works, a product manager can describe a question, an engineer can implement the required signal, and an analyst can interpret it without guessing.
Start with decisions, not screens
Screen-by-screen tracking creates volume quickly, but it ages badly. Begin with product questions: What indicates that a new user reached value? Which actions distinguish an active workspace? What failures interrupt a critical task?
Use an object-action structure
Names such as Report Created and Invite Sent are specific enough to understand and stable enough to survive interface changes. Properties should provide meaningful context—method, plan, source or state—rather than repeat information already in the event.
Define every event
Each entry needs a plain-language definition, trigger condition, required properties, owner and status. Include examples and exclusions where interpretation could vary. “Search Performed,” for instance, should state whether an empty query or repeated submission counts.
Keep governance lightweight
A taxonomy only stays trustworthy if changes are reviewed. Assign an owner, use a short request template, and add validation to release checks for critical events. A monthly cleanup is less effective than a small decision at the moment tracking changes.
The goal is not perfect coverage. It is a dependable vocabulary for the behaviors that matter.