Title: Pulse vs. Historical views
Author: bethurban
Published: June 9, 2025
Last modified: September 22, 2025

---

 1. [User handbook](https://docs.parse.ly/user-handbook/)
 2. [The Parse.ly Dashboard](https://docs.parse.ly/user-handbook/dashboard/)
 3. [Navigating the Parse.ly Dashboard](https://docs.parse.ly/user-handbook/dashboard/navigating/)
 4. Pulse vs. Historical views

#  Pulse vs. Historical views

The tabs of the [Parse.ly Dashboard](https://docs.parse.ly/dashboard/) have various
view and filter options. The view can be changed from **Pulse** (real-time data)
to **Historical** (long-term data) at the top left of most tabs ([Posts/Pages](https://docs.parse.ly/dashboard/posts-tab/),
[Authors](https://docs.parse.ly/dashboard/authors-tab/), [Sections](https://docs.parse.ly/dashboard/sections-tab/),
[Tags](https://docs.parse.ly/dashboard/tags-tab/), [Referrers](https://docs.parse.ly/dashboard/referrers-tab/),
[Campaigns](https://docs.parse.ly/dashboard/campaigns-tab/), [Channels](https://docs.parse.ly/dashboard/channels-tab/),
[Segments](https://docs.parse.ly/dashboard/segments-tab/), [Conversions](https://docs.parse.ly/dashboard/conversions-tab/)).

![](https://docs.parse.ly/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/09/image-83.png)

The Pulse or Historical view can be chosen from the top left of most Dashboard tabs.

Dashboard tabs with the Pulse and Historical views first default to displaying Pulse.
If the view has been switched to Historical in one tab, that will display the next
time that tab or any other is opened.

The [Overview](https://docs.parse.ly/dashboard/overview-tab/) and [Reports](https://docs.parse.ly/dashboard/reports-tab/)
tabs don’t use these views.

## Pulse: Real-time data

Use the Pulse view in a Dashboard tab to see a line graph of real-time traffic data.
If switched to Historical, click “Pulse” in the top left corner of the tab.

![](https://docs.parse.ly/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/09/image-84-scaled.png)

The Pulse view in the Parse.ly Dashboard.

 1. Pulse defaults to displaying today’s real-time data — the last 24 hours, updating
    every five seconds. That time frame can be adjusted from five minutes to 24 hours
    in the drop-down menu.
 2. The line graph included in Pulse shows a green trend line of traffic during the
    selected time frame.
 3. The Pulse line graph also includes a gray area that reflects the eight-week trailing
    average of traffic.

Hovering over an individual post, author, section, tag, etc. listed beneath Pulse’s
line graph brings up an additional green area on the graph showing that item’s proportion
of all traffic during the selected time range:

![](https://docs.parse.ly/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/09/pulse-hover.gif)

Hovering over an individual item beneath Pulse’s line graph shows that item’s proportion
of all traffic.

## Historical: Long-term data

Use the Historical view in a Dashboard tab to see a bar graph of long-term traffic
data. If switched to Pulse, click “Historical” in the top left corner of the tab.

![](https://docs.parse.ly/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/09/image-86.png)

The Historical view in the Parse.ly Dashboard.

 1. Historical defaults to displaying the current day’s data. That time range can be
    quickly adjusted by clicking one of the “Daily,” “Weekly,” or “Monthly” presets.
 2. A date range can also be specified by clicking the calendar icon. Select specific
    start and end dates, or choose from presets between “Today” and “Last 12 Months.”
 3.  * The bar graph can also be clicked and dragged to select a date range. The line
       graph beneath the bar graph can be clicked and dragged to scroll through a wider
       date range for selection, as well.

![](https://docs.parse.ly/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/09/Historical-selection.
gif)

Clicking and dragging Historical’s bar graph allows date selection.

 3. Click “Compare” to choose another time range to consider beside the primary time
    range selected. This [comparison mode](https://docs.parse.ly/tools-features/comparison-mode/)
    allows performance to be measured in context against other time periods.

Last updated: September 22, 2025