Title: Traffic Classification metrics
Author: WordPress VIP Documentation
Published: May 12, 2026

---

 1. [Performance](https://docs.wpvip.com/performance/)
 2. [Insights & Metrics](https://docs.wpvip.com/performance/insights-metrics/)
 3. Traffic Classification metrics

#  Traffic Classification metrics

Insights into the types of traffic an environment receives can found in the [Insights & Metrics panel](https://docs.wpvip.com/performance/insights-metrics/),
located in [the application view of the VIP Dashboard](https://docs.wpvip.com/vip-dashboard/application-view/).

Select the tab labeled “**Traffic Classification**” to view requests to a WordPress
or Node.js application, grouped by likely traffic type.

Traffic Classification metrics help identify changes in request patterns, such as
an increase in crawler or AI agent activity. This is useful context when investigating
performance, cache behavior, or unexpected changes in traffic volume.

## Traffic categories

Requests are grouped into the following categories:

 * **People:** Requests classified as traffic from humans. This is typically browser
   activity from visitors, but can also include bots or AI agents that mask their
   identities to appear human.
 * **AI Agents:** Requests identified as traffic from AI agents, assistants, or 
   AI-related automated systems.
 * **Crawlers:** Requests identified as automated crawler traffic, such as search
   engine crawlers, site monitors, scanners, software libraries, fetchers, or similar
   automated clients.
 * **Unidentified:** Requests that could not be reliably classified.

## Summary metrics

The summary cards display the total number of requests for the selected time period,
along with the percentage of traffic classified as **People**, **AI Agents**, and**
Crawlers**.

Each card can also show how the current value compares to the previous period.

![Example screenshot of summary cards displayed in the "Traffic Classification" 
tab of the Insights & Metrics panel of the VIP Dashboard.](https://docs.wpvip.com/
wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Traffic-Classification-summaries-scaled.png)

Example screenshot of summary cards displayed in the “Traffic Classification” tab
of the Insights & Metrics panel of the VIP Dashboard.

## Traffic Distribution

The “Traffic Distribution” panel shows the percentage of requests in each traffic
category for the selected time period. Use this view to understand the overall composition
of traffic reaching the environment.

![Example screenshot of data displayed in the "Traffic Distribution" section of 
the "Traffic Classification" tab of the Insights & Metrics panel of the VIP Dashboard.](
https://docs.wpvip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Traffic-Distribution-chart.
png)

Example screenshot of data displayed in the “Traffic Distribution” section of the“
Traffic Classification” tab of the Insights & Metrics panel of the VIP Dashboard.

## Traffic Classification Over Time

The “Traffic Classification Over Time” panel displays a stacked bar chart showing
how traffic categories changed across the selected time period.

Use this chart to identify spikes, drops, or gradual changes in a specific category,
such as an increase in crawler or AI agent traffic.

![Example screenshot of data displayed in the "Traffic Classification Over Time"
section of the "Traffic Classification" tab of the Insights & Metrics panel of the
VIP Dashboard.](https://docs.wpvip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Traffic-
Classification-Over-Time-chart.png)

Example screenshot of data displayed in the “Traffic Classification Over Time” section
of the “Traffic Classification” tab of the Insights & Metrics panel of the VIP Dashboard.

## Traffic Classification Details

The “Traffic Classification Details” table provides a detailed breakdown by traffic
class, including request counts, percentages, and trend indicators.

Some classes include subclasses that provide more detail about the type of traffic.
For example, traffic classified as **AI Agents** might include subclasses such as**
AI Data Scraper** or **AI Search Crawler**. Traffic classified as **Crawlers** might
include subclasses such as **Software Library** or **Fetcher**.

![Example screenshot of data displayed in the "Traffic Classification Details" section
of the "Traffic Classification" tab of the Insights & Metrics panel of the VIP Dashboard.](
https://docs.wpvip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Traffic-Classification-
Details-table-scaled.png)

Example screenshot of data displayed in the “Traffic Classification Details” section
of the “Traffic Classification” tab of the Insights & Metrics panel of the VIP Dashboard.

### Traffic Operator Details

The “Traffic Classification Details” table can be switched from **Class** to **Operator**.

The “Traffic Operator Details” view displays traffic by detected operator or bot
name when that information is available. If an operator cannot be identified, it
appears as **Unknown**. This can help identify specific automated sources contributing
to a traffic category.

![Example screenshot of data displayed in the "Traffic Operator Details" section
of the "Traffic Classification" tab of the Insights & Metrics panel of the VIP Dashboard.](
https://docs.wpvip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Traffic-Operator-Details-
chart-scaled.png)

Example screenshot of data displayed in the “Traffic Operator Details” section of
the “Traffic Classification” tab of the Insights & Metrics panel of the VIP Dashboard.

Last updated: May 12, 2026