Logging is the practice of recording discrete, timestamped events generated by software systems as they execute, producing a durable trail used for debugging, auditing, and monitoring. Log records typically capture a severity level, source component, timestamp, and structured or free-text message, and are aggregated into centralised stores for search and correlation. Logging underpins observability alongside metrics and distributed tracing, and is a prerequisite for post-incident forensic analysis.
In Plain Terms
- A running diary the software keeps of what happened and when, with each notable event stamped with a time and a severity. When something goes wrong, these records are the first place you look to retrace the steps and work out why.