Observability is the ability to gain deep insights into the internal workings of a system by examining its outputs. This information is crucial for troubleshooting problems, optimizing performance, and improving security. In simpler terms, observability allows you to understand why a system is behaving the way it is.
This blog post explores the three pillars of observability: metrics, logs, and traces. We will also discuss the difference between observability and monitoring, popular observability tools, and how they can all work together to give you a complete picture of your system’s health.
What is the Difference Between Observability and Monitoring?
Monitoring is a practice of collecting data on system performance and behavior. It’s a crucial part of observability, but it doesn’t provide the same level of insight. Observability goes beyond simple data collection by allowing you to ask questions and explore the root causes of issues.
Here’s a table that summarizes the key differences between observability and monitoring: