Logifailide

Logifailide are files that record events produced by computer systems, software applications and networks. They document operational activity, errors, and user interactions, and are a primary source for troubleshooting, performance monitoring, security auditing, and compliance.

Entries in log files typically include a timestamp, a source component, a severity level or event type, and a human- or machine-readable message. Some logs use free-form text, others adopt structured formats such as key=value pairs or JSON to facilitate automated parsing.

Common categories include system logs (kernel, services, startup messages), application logs, access logs (web servers, APIs), error logs, database logs, and security or audit trails. Web servers often employ the Common Log Format or combined log format, while many systems rely on the syslog family of formats (RFC 5424). Logs may be stored as plain text files with a .log extension, or in specialized databases and binary formats.

Log files are frequently rotated and archived to manage disk usage, with tools that compress, rename, or purge old entries. Centralized logging infrastructures aggregate logs from multiple sources for search, visualization, and alerting, using technologies such as the ELK/EFK stack, Splunk, or Graylog.

Security and privacy considerations are important: log contents can include sensitive information, so access control, masking of credentials, and encryption of log data at rest are common practices. Reliable integrity measures, including checksums or digital signatures, help detect tampering.

See also log rotation, log management, and SIEM.