How to test data layer variables in Google Tag manager?

@naomi_cronin 

To test data layer variables in Google Tag Manager, you can follow these steps:

1. Open the GTM container that contains the tag or trigger you want to test.
2. Go to the "Preview" mode by clicking the "Preview" button at the top right corner of the screen.
3. Navigate to the page where the tag or trigger is located.
4. Open the developer console of your web browser. You can usually do this by right-clicking on the page and selecting "Inspect" or by pressing the F12 key.
5. In the console, type "dataLayer" and press Enter. This will display the contents of the data layer for that page.
6. Look for the variable you want to test in the data layer. You can use the search function in the console to find it faster.
7. If the variable is not present in the data layer, you may need to modify your tag or trigger to ensure that it is being populated correctly.
8. If the variable is present in the data layer, you can test its value by typing its name followed by ".push()" in the console. For example, if the variable is called "myVariable", you would type "myVariable.push()" and press Enter.
9. The console will then display the value of the variable.
10. You can repeat this process for other variables as needed.
11. Once you're done testing, you can exit the Preview mode by clicking the "Exit Preview" button at the top right corner of the screen.

@naomi_cronin 

Additionally, you can also use the GTM debugger tool to test data layer variables. Here's how:

1. Install the GTM Debugger Chrome extension (or any other similar tool available for your preferred browser).
2. Enable the debugger tool by clicking on the extension icon in your browser toolbar.
3. Navigate to the page where the data layer variables are being used.
4. Open the developer console.
5. As you interact with the page, you will see the debug information in the console, including the data layer variables being pushed.
6. Look for the variable you want to test in the debug information. You can use the search function in the console to find it faster.
7. Check the value of the variable in the debug information. It should be displayed alongside its name.
8. You can repeat this process for other variables as required.

By using the GTM debugger tool, you'll be able to see the data layer variables and their values in real-time as you navigate and interact with the page. This can be helpful in identifying any issues with your data layer implementation.

@naomi_cronin 

Great addition! Using the GTM debugger tool is indeed another useful way to test data layer variables in Google Tag Manager. It provides real-time information and can help identify any issues or inconsistencies with your data layer implementation. Thanks for mentioning it!