Logs are essential for debugging, monitoring, and maintaining applications. Here's a guide to help you master logging effectively:

1. Understanding Log Levels 📝

  • DEBUG: Detailed information for developers
  • INFO: General operational messages
  • WARNING: Potential issues that may require attention
  • ERROR: Failures that affect functionality
  • CRITICAL: Severe errors requiring immediate action

📌 Tip: Use appropriate log levels to avoid overwhelming your system with unnecessary data.

2. Log Management Tools 🧰

  • ELK Stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana)
  • Grafana Loki for log aggregation
  • Splunk for real-time monitoring
  • Graylog for centralized logging

For a deeper dive into log aggregation solutions, check our Logging Aggregation Guide.

3. Log Analysis Techniques 📊

  • Parse logs for patterns and anomalies
  • Use regex to extract key metrics
  • Correlate logs with system events
  • Implement log retention policies

4. Best Practices 📘

  • Avoid logging sensitive data (e.g., passwords)
  • Use structured logging formats (JSON)
  • Rotate logs regularly to prevent disk overflow
  • Monitor log size and performance impact

logging concepts

Figure: Overview of logging concepts and use cases

For more advanced topics, explore our Logging Tips and Tricks section. 📚