Data mining as a discipline aims to relate the analysis of large amounts of user data to shed light on key business questions. Web usage mining in particular, a relatively young discipline, investigates methodologies and techniques that address the unique challenges of discovering insights from Web usage data, aiming to evaluateWeb usability, understand the interests and expectations of users and assess the effectiveness of content delivery. The maturing and expanding Web presents a key driving force in the rapid growth of electronic commerce and a new channel for content providers. Customized offers and content, made possible by discovered knowledge about the customer, are fundamental for the establishment of viable e-commerce solutions and sustained and effective content delivery
in noncommercial domains. Rich Web logs provide companies with data about their online visitors and prospective customers, allowing microsegmentation and personalized interactions.