Definition · operations
observability
observability is the ability to understand a system from its traces, logs, measures, state, and other clues. You can spot observability in practice when the record shows what the system observes, what choice it makes, and what changes next, without asking the reader to guess or trust a slogan.
157 definitions656 sourced recordsNamed source: ACL Anthology
Why does observability matter?
You cannot explain or repair a run from the final answer alone. Traces, state changes, costs, and errors show how it unfolded. For observability, start with three checks: What signal proves the run worked? Can the run be replayed from its record? Which failure sends work back for repair? The answers should point to visible evidence, not a promise.
What does observability look like?
An operator follows a trace from user request through model calls, tool calls, retries, and final response. This example makes observability visible by naming the actor, the action, and the result in practice. It is an illustration for readers, not a claim that every product behaves this way.
What is observability easy to confuse with?
Observability is the ability to infer system behavior from evidence. Monitoring watches selected signals and raises alerts. The closest entries here are evaluator, observation, evaluation. Compare their definitions with observability before using the names as if they mean the same thing. That comparison keeps observability separate from nearby ideas without pretending the boundary is always perfect.
How certain is this definition?
This definition is provisional. ACL Anthology supports the version you see today, but a better or more direct source may change it. Open the cited page and check its date before you use this entry to choose a product, write a policy, set a safety control, or design a system.
Who introduced the term observability?
We have not verified who first introduced observability. The source supports a useful definition, but it may not be the earliest use. Until a dated primary record settles the question, we leave the origin open. A popular article or product page is not enough to name the person who coined a term.
What should you understand before observability?
Read evaluation first when observability depends on a more basic idea or mechanism. The link gives you a useful route through the glossary. It does not mean every author teaches the subject in this order, so follow the source when the sequence matters.
What should this term help you answer?
Use observability to ask what an agent can observe, decide, change, remember, or hand off. The questions below turn the definition into a practical check. They are prompts for your own work, not claims made by the source, so change them to fit the system you are examining.
- What signal proves the run worked?
- Can the run be replayed from its record?
- Which failure sends work back for repair?
Which source supports this definition of observability?
ACL Anthology supports this working definition of observability. We checked the link on 2026-07-12. Open the original record for its context, methods, limits, and publication details. The short explanation here is a guide to observability; the linked source remains the evidence to inspect when the wording or boundary matters.
source foundobservabilityChecked 2026-07-12→