What is “var _gaq = _gaq || []; ” for?

Question

The Async Tracking code in Google Analytics looks like this:

var _gaq = _gaq || []; 
_gaq.push([\'_setAccount\', \'UA-XXXXX-X\']); 
_gaq.push([\'_trackPagev         


        

Answer 1

Yes, it ensures that _gaq is defined, so that _gaq.push() never fails.

I would not mess with the name of the variables in GA's code... do you have any reason to? Does it conflict with any of your variables? (Then I would change mine...)