logger

A logger is a person who harvests trees and timber in forests or plantations, commonly known as a lumberjack or timber cutter. Loggers operate equipment such as chainsaws, skidders, and harvesters, and work to select, fell, and transport trees to landing areas or mills. The work is typically performed in rugged outdoor conditions and is subject to safety regulations, environmental guidelines, and labor agreements. In many regions, logging is part of a broader forestry industry that includes silviculture, milling, and transportation.

In computing, a logger (or logging system) is a software component that records information about a program’s execution or system events. Loggers write messages to log files, consoles, or centralized logging services. They support features such as log levels (for example, debug, info, warning, error, critical), message formatting, rotation and retention policies, filtering, and multiple destinations. Traditional loggers aid debugging and troubleshooting, while modern implementations enable monitoring, auditing, and incident analysis. They are integral to software development, operations, and security practices, and are available in many programming languages and frameworks.

The term logger reflects its roots in the handling of timber, while its computing usage centers on creating an auditable record of events. Across both domains, logging serves to document activity, support accountability, and facilitate analysis, although the methods and goals differ according to context.