Lineprotocol

Lineprotocol is a simple text-based data format commonly used for ingesting time-series data into databases. It is designed for high-throughput and efficient storage of metrics. A typical Lineprotocol measurement consists of three main components: a measurement name, a series of tags, and a set of fields, followed by a timestamp.

The measurement name identifies the type of data being recorded, such as CPU usage or temperature. Tags are key-value pairs that provide metadata for categorizing the data, allowing for filtering and aggregation. For example, tags could include hostnames, regions, or sensor IDs. Fields are also key-value pairs but represent the actual data values being measured. These fields can be integers, floats, or booleans. The timestamp, typically in Unix epoch time, indicates when the measurement occurred.

The syntax is straightforward, with different components separated by specific delimiters. A comma separates the measurement name from the tags, and another comma separates tags from fields. Key-value pairs within tags and fields are separated by an equals sign. The measurement name and tags together form the "series key," which uniquely identifies a particular time-series. Lineprotocol is widely adopted by time-series databases like InfluxDB and others that require a simple, efficient way to ingest large volumes of operational data. Its design prioritizes speed and minimal overhead, making it suitable for IoT devices, application monitoring, and other data-intensive applications.