elasticsearch/docs/reference/glossary.asciidoc

[glossary]
[[glossary]]
= Glossary of terms

[glossary]
[[glossary-analysis]] analysis ::
+
--
// tag::analysis-def[]
Analysis is the process of converting <<glossary-text,full text>> to
<<glossary-term,terms>>. Depending on which analyzer is used, these phrases:
`FOO BAR`, `Foo-Bar`, `foo,bar` will probably all result in the
terms `foo` and `bar`. These terms are what is actually stored in
the index.

A full text query (not a <<glossary-term,term>> query) for `FoO:bAR` will
also be analyzed to the terms `foo`,`bar` and will thus match the
terms stored in the index.

It is this process of analysis (both at index time and at search time)
that allows Elasticsearch to perform full text queries.

Also see <<glossary-text,text>> and <<glossary-term,term>>.
// end::analysis-def[]
--

[[glossary-api-key]] API key ::
// tag::api-key-def[]
A unique identifier that you can use for authentication when submitting {es} requests.
When TLS is enabled, all requests must be authenticated using either basic authentication
(user name and password) or an API key.
// end::api-key-def[]


[[glossary-auto-follow-pattern]] auto-follow pattern ::
// tag::auto-follow-pattern-def[]
An <<glossary-index-pattern,index pattern>> that automatically configures new indices as
<<glossary-follower-index,follower indices>> for <<glossary-ccr,{ccr}>>.
For more information, see {ref}/ccr-auto-follow.html[Managing auto follow patterns].
// end::auto-follow-pattern-def[]

[[glossary-cluster]] cluster ::
// tag::cluster-def[]
One or more <<glossary-node,nodes>> that share the
same cluster name. Each cluster has a single master node, which is
chosen automatically by the cluster and can be replaced if it fails.
// end::cluster-def[]

[[glossary-cold-phase]] cold phase ::
// tag::cold-phase-def[]
The third possible phase in the <<glossary-index-lifecycle,index lifecycle>>.
In the cold phase, an index is no longer updated and seldom queried.
The information still needs to be searchable, but it’s okay if those queries are slower.
// end::cold-phase-def[]

[[glossary-cold-tier]] cold tier::
// tag::cold-tier-def[]
A <<glossary-data-tier, data tier>> that contains nodes that hold time series data 
that is accessed occasionally and not normally updated.
// end::cold-tier-def[]

[[glossary-component-template]] component template ::
// tag::component-template-def[]
A building block for constructing <<index-templates,index templates>> that specifies index
<<mapping,mappings>>, <<index-modules-settings,settings>>, and <<indices-aliases,aliases>>.
// end::component-template-def[]

[[glossary-content-tier]] content tier::
// tag::content-tier-def[]
A <<glossary-data-tier, data tier>> that contains nodes that handle the indexing and query load for 
content such as a product catalog.
// end::content-tier-def[]

[[glossary-ccr]] {ccr} (CCR)::
// tag::ccr-def[]
A feature that enables you to replicate indices in remote clusters to your
local cluster. For more information, see
{ref}/xpack-ccr.html[{ccr-cap}].
// end::ccr-def[]

[[glossary-ccs]] {ccs} (CCS)::
// tag::ccs-def[]
A feature that enables any node to act as a federated client across
multiple clusters.
See {ref}/modules-cross-cluster-search.html[Search across clusters].
// end::ccs-def[]

[[glossary-data-stream]] data stream ::
+
--
// tag::data-stream-def[]
A named resource used to ingest, search, and manage time series data in {es}. A
data stream's data is stored across multiple hidden, auto-generated
<<glossary-index,indices>>. You can automate management of these indices to more
efficiently store large data volumes.

See {ref}/data-streams.html[Data streams].
// end::data-stream-def[]
--

[[glossary-data-tier]] data tier::
// tag::data-tier-def[]
A collection of nodes with the same data role that typically share the same hardware profile.
See <<glossary-content-tier, content tier>>, <<glossary-hot-tier, hot tier>>, <<glossary-warm-tier, warm tier>>,
<<glossary-cold-tier, cold tier>>.
// end::data-tier-def[]

[[glossary-delete-phase]] delete phase ::
// tag::delete-phase-def[]
The last possible phase in the <<glossary-index-lifecycle,index lifecycle>>.
In the delete phase, an index is no longer needed and can safely be deleted.
// end::delete-phase-def[]

[[glossary-document]] document ::
+
--
// tag::document-def[]
A document is a JSON document which is stored in Elasticsearch. It is
like a row in a table in a relational database. Each document is
stored in an <<glossary-index,index>> and has a <<glossary-type,type>>
and an <<glossary-id,id>>.

A document is a JSON object (also known in other languages as a hash /
hashmap / associative array) which contains zero or more
<<glossary-field,fields>>, or key-value pairs.

The original JSON document that is indexed will be stored in the
<<glossary-source_field,`_source` field>>, which is returned by default when
getting or searching for a document.
// end::document-def[]
--

[[glossary-field]] field ::
+
--
// tag::field-def[]
A <<glossary-document,document>> contains a list of fields, or key-value
pairs. The value can be a simple (scalar) value (eg a string, integer,
date), or a nested structure like an array or an object. A field is
similar to a column in a table in a relational database.

The <<glossary-mapping,mapping>> for each field has a field _type_ (not to
be confused with document <<glossary-type,type>>) which indicates the type
of data that can be stored in that field, eg `integer`, `string`,
`object`. The mapping also allows you to define (amongst other things)
how the value for a field should be analyzed.
// end::field-def[]
--

[[glossary-filter]] filter ::
// tag::filter-def[]
A filter is a non-scoring <<glossary-query,query>>,
meaning that it does not score documents.
It is only concerned about answering the question - "Does this document match?".
The answer is always a simple, binary yes or no. This kind of query is said to be made
in a {ref}/query-filter-context.html[filter context],
hence it is called a filter. Filters are simple checks for set inclusion or exclusion.
In most cases, the goal of filtering is to reduce the number of documents that have to be examined.
// end::filter-def[]

[[glossary-flush]] flush ::
// tag::flush-def[]
Peform a Lucene commit to write index updates in the transaction log (translog) to disk.
Because a Lucene commit is a relatively expensive operation,
{es} records index and delete operations in the translog and
automatically flushes changes to disk in batches.
To recover from a crash, operations that have been acknowledged but not yet committed
can be replayed from the translog.
Before upgrading, you can explicitly call the {ref}/indices-flush.html[Flush] API
to ensure that all changes are committed to disk.
// end::flush-def[]

[[glossary-follower-index]] follower index ::
// tag::follower-index-def[]
The target index for <<glossary-ccr,{ccr}>>. A follower index exists
in a local cluster and replicates a <<glossary-leader-index,leader index>>.
// end::follower-index-def[]

[[glossary-force-merge]] force merge ::
// tag::force-merge-def[]
// tag::force-merge-def-short[]
Manually trigger a merge to reduce the number of segments in each shard of an index
and free up the space used by deleted documents.
// end::force-merge-def-short[]
You should not force merge indices that are actively being written to.
Merging is normally performed automatically, but you can use force merge after
<<glossary-rollover,rollover>> to reduce the shards in the old index to a single segment.
See the {ref}/indices-forcemerge.html[force merge API].
// end::force-merge-def[]

[[glossary-freeze]] freeze ::
// tag::freeze-def[]
// tag::freeze-def-short[]
Make an index read-only and minimize its memory footprint.
// end::freeze-def-short[]
Frozen indices can be searched without incurring the overhead of of re-opening a closed index,
but searches are throttled and might be slower.
You can freeze indices to reduce the overhead of keeping older indices searchable
before you are ready to archive or delete them.
See the {ref}/freeze-index-api.html[freeze API].
// end::freeze-def[]

[[glossary-frozen-index]] frozen index ::
// tag::frozen-index-def[]
An index reduced to a low overhead state that still enables occasional searches.
Frozen indices use a memory-efficient shard implementation and throttle searches to conserve resources.
Searching a frozen index is lower overhead than re-opening a closed index to enable searching.
// end::frozen-index-def[]

[[glossary-frozen-phase]] frozen phase ::
// tag::frozen-phase-def[]
The fourth possible phase in the <<glossary-index-lifecycle,index lifecycle>>.
In the frozen phase, an index is no longer updated and queried rarely.
The information still needs to be searchable, but it’s okay if those queries are extremely slow.
// end::frozen-phase-def[]

[[glossary-frozen-tier]] frozen tier::
// tag::frozen-tier-def[]
A <<glossary-data-tier, data tier>> that contains nodes that hold time series data
that is accessed rarely and not normally updated.
// end::frozen-tier-def[]

[[glossary-hidden-index]] hidden index ::
// tag::hidden-index-def[]
An index that is excluded by default when you access indices using a wildcard expression. 
You can specify the `expand_wildcards` parameter to include hidden indices.
Note that hidden indices _are_ included if the wildcard expression starts with a dot, for example `.watcher-history*`.
// end::hidden-index-def[]

[[glossary-hot-phase]] hot phase ::
// tag::hot-phase-def[]
The first possible phase in the <<glossary-index-lifecycle,index lifecycle>>.
In the hot phase, an index is actively updated and queried.
// end::hot-phase-def[]

[[glossary-hot-tier]] hot tier::
// tag::hot-tier-def[]
A <<glossary-data-tier, data tier>> that contains nodes that handle the indexing load 
for time series data such as logs or metrics and hold your most recent, 
most-frequently-accessed data.
// end::hot-tier-def[]

[[glossary-id]] id ::
// tag::id-def[]
The ID of a <<glossary-document,document>> identifies a document. The
`index/id` of a document must be unique. If no ID is provided,
then it will be auto-generated. (also see <<glossary-routing,routing>>)
// end::id-def[]

[[glossary-index]] index ::
+
--
// tag::index-def[]
// tag::index-def-short[]
An optimized collection of JSON documents. Each document is a collection of fields,
the key-value pairs that contain your data.
// end::index-def-short[]

An index is a logical namespace that maps to one or more
<<glossary-primary-shard,primary shards>> and can have zero or more
<<glossary-replica-shard,replica shards>>.
// end::index-def[]
--

[[glossary-index-alias]] index alias ::
+
--
// tag::index-alias-def[]
// tag::index-alias-desc[]
An index alias is a logical name used to reference one or more indices.

Most {es} APIs accept an index alias in place of an index name.
// end::index-alias-desc[]

See {ref}/indices-add-alias.html[Add index alias].
// end::index-alias-def[]
--

[[glossary-index-lifecycle]] index lifecycle ::
// tag::index-lifecycle-def[]
The four phases an index can transition through:
<<glossary-hot-phase,hot>>, <<glossary-warm-phase,warm>>,
<<glossary-cold-phase,cold>>, and <<glossary-delete-phase,delete>>.
For more information, see {ref}/ilm-policy-definition.html[Index lifecycle].
// end::index-lifecycle-def[]

[[glossary-index-lifecycle-policy]] index lifecycle policy ::
// tag::index-lifecycle-policy-def[]
Specifies how an index moves between phases in the index lifecycle and
what actions to perform during each phase.
// end::index-lifecycle-policy-def[]

[[glossary-index-pattern]] index pattern ::
// tag::index-pattern-def[]
A string that can contain the `*` wildcard to match multiple index names.
In most cases, the index parameter in an {es} request can be the name of a specific index,
a list of index names, or an index pattern.
For example, if you have the indices `datastream-000001`, `datastream-000002`, and `datastream-000003`,
to search across all three you could use the `datastream-*` index pattern.
// end::index-pattern-def[]

[[glossary-index-template]] index template ::
+
--
// tag::index-template-def[]
// tag::index-template-def-short[]
Defines settings and mappings to apply to new indexes that match a simple naming pattern, such as _logs-*_.
// end::index-template-def-short[]

An index template can also attach a lifecycle policy to the new index.
Index templates are used to automatically configure indices created during <<glossary-rollover,rollover>>.
// end::index-template-def[]
--

[[glossary-leader-index]] leader index ::
// tag::leader-index-def[]
The source index for <<glossary-ccr,{ccr}>>. A leader index exists
on a remote cluster and is replicated to
<<glossary-follower-index,follower indices>>.
// end::leader-index-def[]

[[glossary-local-cluster]] local cluster ::
// tag::local-cluster-def[]
The cluster that pulls data from a <<glossary-remote-cluster,remote cluster>> in {ccs} or {ccr}.
// end::local-cluster-def[]

[[glossary-mapping]] mapping ::
+
--
// tag::mapping-def[]
A mapping is like a _schema definition_ in a relational database. Each
<<glossary-index,index>> has a mapping,
which defines a <<glossary-type,type>>,
plus a number of index-wide settings.

A mapping can either be defined explicitly, or it will be generated
automatically when a document is indexed.
// end::mapping-def[]
--

[[glossary-node]] node ::
// tag::node-def[]
A running instance of {es} that belongs to a
<<glossary-cluster,cluster>>. Multiple nodes can be started on a single
server for testing purposes, but usually you should have one node per
server.
// end::node-def[]

[[glossary-primary-shard]] primary shard ::
+
--
// tag::primary-shard-def[]
Each document is stored in a single primary <<glossary-shard,shard>>. When
you index a document, it is indexed first on the primary shard, then
on all <<glossary-replica-shard,replicas>> of the primary shard.

By default, an <<glossary-index,index>> has one primary shard. You can specify
more primary shards to scale the number of <<glossary-document,documents>>
that your index can handle.

You cannot change the number of primary shards in an index, once the index is
created. However, an index can be split into a new index using the
{ref}/indices-split-index.html[split index API].

See also <<glossary-routing,routing>>.
// end::primary-shard-def[]
--

[[glossary-query]] query ::
+
--
// tag::query-def[]
A request for information from {es}. You can think of a query as a question,
written in a way {es} understands. A search consists of one or more queries
combined.

There are two types of queries: _scoring queries_ and _filters_. For more
information about query types,
see {ref}/query-filter-context.html[Query and filter context].
// end::query-def[]
--

[[glossary-recovery]] recovery ::
+
--
// tag::recovery-def[]
Shard recovery is the process
of syncing a <<glossary-replica-shard,replica shard>>
from a <<glossary-primary-shard,primary shard>>.
Upon completion,
the replica shard is available for search.

// tag::recovery-triggers[]
Recovery automatically occurs
during the following processes:

* Node startup or failure.
  This type of recovery is called a *local store recovery*.
* <<glossary-replica-shard,Primary shard replication>>.
* Relocation of a shard to a different node in the same cluster.
* {ref}/snapshots-restore-snapshot.html[Snapshot restoration].
// end::recovery-triggers[]
// end::recovery-def[]
--

[[glossary-reindex]] reindex ::
+
--
// tag::reindex-def[]
Copies documents from a _source_ to a _destination_. The source and
destination can be any pre-existing index, index alias, or
{ref}/data-streams.html[data stream].

You can reindex all documents from a source or select a subset of documents to
copy. You can also reindex to a destination in a remote cluster.

A reindex is often performed to update mappings, change static index settings,
or upgrade {es} between incompatible versions.
// end::reindex-def[]
--

[[glossary-remote-cluster]] remote cluster ::

// tag::remote-cluster-def[]
A separate cluster, often in a different data center or locale, that contains indices that
can be replicated or searched by the <<glossary-local-cluster,local cluster>>.
The connection to a remote cluster is unidirectional.
// end::remote-cluster-def[]

[[glossary-replica-shard]] replica shard ::
+
--
// tag::replica-shard-def[]
Each <<glossary-primary-shard,primary shard>> can have zero or more
replicas. A replica is a copy of the primary shard, and has two
purposes:

1.  Increase failover: a replica shard can be promoted to a primary
shard if the primary fails
2.  Increase performance: get and search requests can be handled by
primary or replica shards.

By default, each primary shard has one replica, but the number of
replicas can be changed dynamically on an existing index. A replica
shard will never be started on the same node as its primary shard.
// end::replica-shard-def[]
--

[[glossary-rollover]] rollover ::
+
--
// tag::rollover-def[]
// tag::rollover-def-short[]
Creates a new index for a rollover target when the existing index reaches a certain size, number of docs, or age.
A rollover target can be either an <<indices-aliases, index alias>> or a <<data-streams, data stream>>.
// end::rollover-def-short[]

For example, if you're indexing log data, you might use rollover to create daily or weekly indices.
See the {ref}/indices-rollover-index.html[rollover index API].
// end::rollover-def[]
--

ifdef::permanently-unreleased-branch[]

[[glossary-rollup]] rollup ::
// tag::rollup-def[]
Aggregates an index's time series data and stores the results in a new read-only
index. For example, you can roll up hourly data into daily or weekly summaries.
See {ref}/xpack-rollup.html[Roll up your data].
// end::rollup-def[]

endif::[]
ifndef::permanently-unreleased-branch[]

[[glossary-rollup]] rollup ::
// tag::rollup-def[]
Summarize high-granularity data into a more compressed format to
maintain access to historical data in a cost-effective way.
// end::rollup-def[]

[[glossary-rollup-index]] rollup index ::
// tag::rollup-index-def[]
A special type of index for storing historical data at reduced granularity.
Documents are summarized and indexed into a rollup index by a <<glossary-rollup-job,rollup job>>.
// end::rollup-index-def[]

[[glossary-rollup-job]] rollup job ::
// tag::rollup-job-def[]
A background task that runs continuously to summarize documents in an index and
index the summaries into a separate rollup index.
The job configuration controls what information is rolled up and how often.
// end::rollup-job-def[]

endif::[]

[[glossary-routing]] routing ::
+
--
// tag::routing-def[]
When you index a document, it is stored on a single
<<glossary-primary-shard,primary shard>>. That shard is chosen by hashing
the `routing` value. By default, the `routing` value is derived from
the ID of the document or, if the document has a specified parent
document, from the ID of the parent document (to ensure that child and
parent documents are stored on the same shard).

This value can be overridden by specifying a `routing` value at index
time, or a {ref}/mapping-routing-field.html[routing field]
in the <<glossary-mapping,mapping>>.
// end::routing-def[]
--

[[glossary-searchable-snapshot]] searchable snapshot ::
// tag::searchable-snapshot-def[]
A <<glossary-snapshot, snapshot>> of an index that has been mounted as a
<<glossary-searchable-snapshot-index, searchable snapshot index>> and can be
searched as if it were a regular index.
// end::searchable-snapshot-def[]

[[glossary-searchable-snapshot-index]] searchable snapshot index ::
// tag::searchable-snapshot-index-def[]
An <<glossary-index, index>> whose data is stored in a <<glossary-snapshot,
snapshot>> that resides in a separate <<glossary-snapshot-repository,snapshot
repository>> such as AWS S3. Searchable snapshot indices do not need
<<glossary-replica-shard,replica>> shards for resilience, since their data is
reliably stored outside the cluster.
// end::searchable-snapshot-index-def[]

[[glossary-shard]] shard ::
+
--
// tag::shard-def[]
A shard is a single Lucene instance. It is a low-level “worker” unit
which is managed automatically by Elasticsearch. An index is a logical
namespace which points to <<glossary-primary-shard,primary>> and
<<glossary-replica-shard,replica>> shards.

Other than defining the number of primary and replica shards that an
index should have, you never need to refer to shards directly.
Instead, your code should deal only with an index.

Elasticsearch distributes shards amongst all <<glossary-node,nodes>> in the
<<glossary-cluster,cluster>>, and can move shards automatically from one
node to another in the case of node failure, or the addition of new
nodes.
// end::shard-def[]
--

[[glossary-shrink]] shrink ::
+
--
// tag::shrink-def[]
// tag::shrink-def-short[]
Reduce the number of primary shards in an index.
// end::shrink-def-short[]

You can shrink an index to reduce its overhead when the request volume drops.
For example, you might opt to shrink an index once it is no longer the write index.
See the {ref}/indices-shrink-index.html[shrink index API].
// end::shrink-def[]
--

[[glossary-snapshot]] snapshot ::
// tag::snapshot-def[]
Captures the state of the whole cluster or of particular indices or data
streams at a particular point in time. Snapshots provide a back up of a running
cluster, ensuring you can restore your data in the event of a failure. You can
also mount indices or datastreams from snapshots as read-only
{ref}/glossary.html#glossary-searchable-snapshot-index[searchable snapshots].
// end::snapshot-def[]

[[glossary-snapshot-lifecycle-policy]] snapshot lifecycle policy ::
// tag::snapshot-lifecycle-policy-def[]
Specifies how frequently to perform automatic backups of a cluster and
how long to retain the resulting snapshots.
// end::snapshot-lifecycle-policy-def[]

[[glossary-snapshot-repository]] snapshot repository ::
// tag::snapshot-repository-def[]
Specifies where snapshots are to be stored.
Snapshots can be written to a shared filesystem or to a remote repository.
// end::snapshot-repository-def[]

[[glossary-source_field]] source field ::
// tag::source-field-def[]
By default, the JSON document that you index will be stored in the
`_source` field and will be returned by all get and search requests.
This allows you access to the original object directly from search
results, rather than requiring a second step to retrieve the object
from an ID.
// end::source-field-def[]

[[glossary-split]] split ::
// tag::split-def[]
To grow the amount of shards in an index.
See the {ref}/indices-split-index.html[split index API].
// end::split-def[]

[[glossary-system-index]] system index ::
// tag::system-index-def[]
An index that contains configuration information or other data used internally by the system, 
such as the `.security` index. 
The name of a system index is always prefixed with a dot.
You should not directly access or modify system indices.
// end::system-index-def[]

[[glossary-term]] term ::
+
--
// tag::term-def[]
A term is an exact value that is indexed in Elasticsearch. The terms
`foo`, `Foo`, `FOO` are NOT equivalent. Terms (i.e. exact values) can
be searched for using _term_ queries.

See also <<glossary-text,text>> and <<glossary-analysis,analysis>>.
// end::term-def[]
--

[[glossary-text]] text ::
+
--
// tag::text-def[]
Text (or full text) is ordinary unstructured text, such as this
paragraph. By default, text will be <<glossary-analysis,analyzed>> into
<<glossary-term,terms>>, which is what is actually stored in the index.

Text <<glossary-field,fields>> need to be analyzed at index time in order to
be searchable as full text, and keywords in full text queries must be
analyzed at search time to produce (and search for) the same terms
that were generated at index time.

See also <<glossary-term,term>> and <<glossary-analysis,analysis>>.
// end::text-def[]
--

[[glossary-type]] type ::
// tag::type-def[]
A type used to represent the _type_ of document, e.g. an `email`, a `user`, or a `tweet`.
Types are deprecated and are in the process of being removed.
See {ref}/removal-of-types.html[Removal of mapping types].
// end::type-def[]

[[glossary-warm-phase]] warm phase ::
// tag::warm-phase-def[]
The second possible phase in the <<glossary-index-lifecycle,index lifecycle>>.
In the warm phase, an index is generally optimized for search and no longer updated.
// end::warm-phase-def[]

[[glossary-warm-tier]] warm tier::
// tag::warm-tier-def[]
A <<glossary-data-tier, data tier>> that contains nodes that hold time series data 
that is accessed less frequently and rarely needs to be updated.
// end::warm-tier-def[]