usageFrom

UsageFrom is a label used in software telemetry and analytics to identify the origin of a usage event. It may appear as a field in event payloads, as a parameter in usage-tracking functions, or as metadata attached to logs.

Etymology and usage: The term is a compound of usage and from; in programming contexts it is often written as usageFrom (camelCase) or usage_from (snake_case). There is no universal standard, and practices vary by project.

Function and data model: In an event schema, usageFrom indicates which component, page, or feature generated the interaction, enabling attribution and segmentation. Example payload: { type: 'click', usageFrom: 'home_banner' }.

Guidelines: Use stable, descriptive values; document allowed values; prefer non-PII identifiers; provide a fallback if the origin is unknown. Consider mapping legacy values during migrations to maintain compatibility.

Alternatives and relation: UsageFrom is related to provenance and source fields but focuses specifically on the origin of usage data rather than broader data lineage.

Limitations: Not standardized across ecosystems; inconsistent naming may hinder cross-project analysis; privacy considerations arise if origins reveal user segments. See also provenance, telemetry, event schema.