Logbuch

Logbuch is a German term meaning logbook, a record kept in ships, aircraft, laboratories, or by individuals to document events, measurements, and observations over time. Historically, the term derives from nautical practice of maintaining a voyage log. A ship’s logbook, or Logbuch, contains entries such as date and time, position, course, speed, weather, cargo status, and notable events; it serves navigational traceability, legal evidence, and voyage review. The captain or designated officer signs entries.

In German and many European contexts, Logbuch is the standard term for both the ship's log and similar records in other domains; the English cognate logbook is used for unrelated systems and personal diaries as well.

Other uses include aviation logbooks for pilots and maintenance teams, recording flight hours, routes, inspections, MEL items, and discrepancies. Scientific and field logbooks document experimental procedures, observations, and data; digital logbooks automate data capture from sensors and equipment.

In modern practice, many Logbücher are kept electronically (electronic logbooks or e-logbooks) to improve accessibility, redundancy, and regulatory compliance; regulatory regimes in maritime and aviation may require secure, tamper-evident records with time stamps and audit trails. The concept also appears in expedition chronicles, museums, and software development as a project log.