Web product analytics installation

Option 1: Add the JavaScript snippet to your HTML Recommended

This is the simplest way to get PostHog up and running. Copy the snippet below, replace <ph_project_api_key> and <ph_client_api_host> with your project's values, and add it within the <head> tags of your product — ideally just before the closing </head> tag.

You can find the snippet pre-filled with your data in your project settings.

HTML
<script>
    !function(t,e){var o,n,p,r;e.__SV||(window.posthog=e,e._i=[],e.init=function(i,s,a){function g(t,e){var o=e.split(".");2==o.length&&(t=t[o[0]],e=o[1]),t[e]=function(){t.push([e].concat(Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments,0)))}}(p=t.createElement("script")).type="text/javascript",p.crossOrigin="anonymous",p.async=!0,p.src=s.api_host.replace(".i.posthog.com","-assets.i.posthog.com")+"/static/array.js",(r=t.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]).parentNode.insertBefore(p,r);var u=e;for(void 0!==a?u=e[a]=[]:a="posthog",u.people=u.people||[],u.toString=function(t){var e="posthog";return"posthog"!==a&&(e+="."+a),t||(e+=" (stub)"),e},u.people.toString=function(){return u.toString(1)+".people (stub)"},o="init capture register register_once register_for_session unregister unregister_for_session getFeatureFlag getFeatureFlagPayload isFeatureEnabled reloadFeatureFlags updateEarlyAccessFeatureEnrollment getEarlyAccessFeatures on onFeatureFlags onSessionId getSurveys getActiveMatchingSurveys renderSurvey canRenderSurvey getNextSurveyStep identify setPersonProperties group resetGroups setPersonPropertiesForFlags resetPersonPropertiesForFlags setGroupPropertiesForFlags resetGroupPropertiesForFlags reset get_distinct_id getGroups get_session_id get_session_replay_url alias set_config startSessionRecording stopSessionRecording sessionRecordingStarted captureException loadToolbar get_property getSessionProperty createPersonProfile opt_in_capturing opt_out_capturing has_opted_in_capturing has_opted_out_capturing clear_opt_in_out_capturing debug".split(" "),n=0;n<o.length;n++)g(u,o[n]);e._i.push([i,s,a])},e.__SV=1)}(document,window.posthog||[]);
    posthog.init('<ph_project_api_key>',{api_host:'https://us.i.posthog.com', defaults:'2025-11-30'})
</script>

Once added, PostHog automatically captures $pageview and other events like button clicks.

Option 2: Install via package manager

  1. Install the package

    Required

    Install the PostHog JavaScript library using your package manager:

    npm install posthog-js

  2. Initialize PostHog

    Required

    Import and initialize the PostHog library with your project API key and host:

    JavaScript
    import posthog from 'posthog-js'
    

    posthog.init('<ph_project_api_key>', {
        api_host: 'https://us.i.posthog.com',
        defaults: '2025-11-30'
    })

  3. Send events

    Recommended

    Once installed, PostHog will automatically start capturing events. You can also manually send events to test your integration:

    Click around and view a couple pages to generate some events. PostHog automatically captures pageviews, clicks, and other interactions for you.

    If you'd like, you can also manually capture custom events:

    JavaScript
    posthog.capture('my_custom_event', { property: 'value' })

  4. Next steps

    Recommended
    ResourceDescription
    Capturing eventsLearn how to capture custom events beyond autocapture
    Identifying usersAssociate events with specific users
    Creating insightsBuild trends, funnels, and retention charts
    Group analyticsTrack events at the company or account level

Community questions

Was this page useful?

Questions about this page? or post a community question.