How does google analytics collect its data?

Question

Yes, I know you have to embed the google analytics javascript into your page.

But how is the collected information submitted to the google analytics server?

Answer 1

To expand on other very good answers, Google does provide an API to track async "virtual pageviews" which are reported by website authors themselves in their scripts to Google.

_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', 'my_unique_action']);

They provide it so it is possible to track actions that are not part of regular page views and http requests.

Async tracking guide: http://code.google.com/apis/analytics/docs/tracking/asyncUsageGuide.html#Syntax