What is Session Replay?

Session replay tools record the DOM changes and user interactions that happen during a visit and reconstruct them as a video-like playback. Unlike screen recording, session replay doesn't capture actual video — it re-renders the page from captured data, which keeps file sizes small and avoids recording sensitive content when masking is enabled.

Teams use session replay to diagnose usability issues, understand why users drop off at a specific step, verify bug reports with real context, and empathize with users by watching their actual experience. It's especially useful for SaaS products where a confused trial user might never come back.

Privacy is an important consideration. Good session replay tools mask sensitive fields like passwords, credit card numbers, and personal information by default. Some tools let you configure exactly which elements are recorded and which are hidden.