Data logging

Data logging is the practice of recording, in some medium, sequential input, often in a time-associated format.

The earliest kind of data logging is that of the old sailing vessels, where the captains kept their log. This is where the term logging derives. The captain would typically make at least a daily entry recording the date, time, weather, sea conditions, bearing, estimated speed, and any noteworthy events.

Now any time-sequential record of events or conditions is called a log.

Origin

The ship's speed was historically measured by throwing a wooden log attached to a rope overboard and counting the number of knots in a rope that passed through a sailor's fingers within a certain time.

See also

• Web log
• Data logger
• Server log