Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Logging (computing)
open-in-new
<p>In <a href="/facts/Computing/Kghtm9fX">computing</a>, logging is the act of keeping a log of <a href="/facts/Event_(computing)/0YdM6AoB">events</a> that occur in a computer system, such as problems, errors or broad information on current operations. These events may occur in the <a href="/facts/Operating_system/8XTuvMh2">operating system</a> or in other <a href="/facts/Software/RP79lVSW">software</a>. A message or <i>log entry</i> is recorded for each such event. These log messages can then be used to monitor and understand the operation of the system, to <a href="/facts/Debugging/QtdpPJT0">debug</a> problems, or during an <a href="/facts/Audit/u8mr4Xsd">audit</a>. Logging is particularly important in <a href="/facts/Multi-user_software/XeKcRNjA">multi-user software</a>, to have a central overview of the operation of the system. </p><p>In the simplest case, messages are written to a file, called a <i>log file</i>. Alternatively, the messages may be written to a dedicated logging system or to a <a href="/facts/Log_management/fn2917a9">log management</a> software, where it is stored in a database or on a different computer system. </p><p>Specifically, a <i>transaction log</i> is a log of the communications between a system and the users of that system, or a data collection method that automatically captures the type, content, or time of transactions made by a person from a terminal with that system. For Web searching, a transaction log is an electronic record of interactions that have occurred during a searching episode between a Web search engine and users searching for information on that Web search engine. </p><p>Many operating systems, software frameworks and programs include a logging system. A widely used logging standard is <a href="/facts/Syslog/n6a7vIkt">Syslog</a>, defined in <a href="/facts/Request_for_Comments/esftTvE7">IETF RFC</a> 5424. The Syslog standard enables a dedicated, standardized subsystem to generate, filter, record, and analyze log messages. This relieves software developers of having to design and code their ad hoc logging systems. </p>