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Describe the use cases for events in greater detail (#3969)
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Resolves #3254 and #4045 

The PR adds clarity to the features provided by Events, as well as
guidance on when it is appropriate to use the Event API.

## Changes

* Reorganized the Data Model section for clarity
* Include MUST for the requirement that Event `Body` and `Attributes`
fields conform to a schema.
* Include use cases for when Events are appropriate.
* Include a warning that advanced logging features are not currently
accessible when using Events.
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tedsuo authored Jun 3, 2024
1 parent 31e3af5 commit 7deeee8
Showing 1 changed file with 45 additions and 14 deletions.
59 changes: 45 additions & 14 deletions specification/logs/event-api.md
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<!-- toc -->

- [Data model](#data-model)
- [Event Data model](#event-data-model)
- [Event API use cases](#event-api-use-cases)
- [EventLoggerProvider](#eventloggerprovider)
* [EventLoggerProvider operations](#eventloggerprovider-operations)
+ [Get an EventLogger](#get-an-eventlogger)
Expand All @@ -25,28 +26,58 @@

The Event API consists of these main components:

* [EventLoggerProvider](#eventloggerprovider) is the entry point of the API. It provides access to `EventLogger`s.
* [EventLoggerProvider](#eventloggerprovider) is the entry point of the API. It
provides access to `EventLogger`s.
* [EventLogger](#eventlogger) is the component responsible for emitting events.

## Data model
## Event Data model

Wikipedia’s [definition of log file](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Log_file):

>In computing, a log file is a file that records either events that occur in an
>operating system or other software runs.
From OpenTelemetry's perspective LogRecords and Events are both represented
using the same [data model](./data-model.md).

However, OpenTelemetry does recognize a subtle semantic difference between
LogRecords and Events: Events are LogRecords which have a `name` which uniquely
defines a particular class or type of event. All events with the same `name`
have `Body` that conform to the same schema, which assists in analysis in
observability platforms. Events are described in more detail in
the [semantic conventions](https://github.com/open-telemetry/semantic-conventions/blob/main/docs/general/events.md).

Unlike the [Logs Bridge API](./bridge-api.md), application developers and
instrumentation authors are encouraged to call this API directly.
using the same [data model](./data-model.md). An Event is a specialized type
of LogRecord, not a separate concept.

Events are OpenTelemetry's standardized semantic formatting for LogRecords.
Beyond the structure provided by the LogRecord data model, it is helpful for
logs to have a common format within that structure. When OpenTelemetry
instrumentation emits logs, those logs SHOULD be formatted as Events. All
semantic conventions defined for logs MUST be formatted as Events.

The Event format is as follows. All Events have a `name` attribute, and all
Events with the same `name` MUST conform to the same schema for both their
`Attributes` and their `Body`.

## Event API use cases

The Events API was designed to allow shared libraries to emit high quality
logs without needing to depend on a third party logger. Unlike the
[Logs Bridge API](./bridge-api.md), instrumentation authors and application
developers are encouraged to call this API directly. It is appropriate to
use the Event API when these properties fit your requirements:

* Logging from a shared library that must run in many applications.
* A semantic convention needs to be defined. We do not define semantic
conventions for LogRecords that are not Events.
* Analysis by an observability platform is the intended use case. For
example: statistics, indexing, machine learning, session replay.
* Normalizing logging and having a consistent schema across a large
application is helpful.

If any of these properties fit your requirements, we recommend using the Event API.
Events are described in more detail in the [semantic conventions](https://github.com/open-telemetry/semantic-conventions/blob/main/docs/general/events.md).

Please note that the OpenTelemetry Log SDK currently lacks a number of advanced
features present in popular logging libraries. For example: pattern logging, file
rotation, network appenders, etc. These features cannot be used with the
OpenTelemetry Event SDK at this time.

If a logging library is capable of creating logs which correctly map
to the Event data model, logging in this manner is also an acceptable way to
create Events.

## EventLoggerProvider

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