elasticsearch/docs/reference/glossary.asciidoc

////
============
IMPORTANT
Add new terms to the Stack Docs glossary:
https://github.com/elastic/stack-docs/tree/master/docs/en/glossary
============
////

[glossary]
[[glossary]]
= Glossary

[glossary]
[[glossary-alias]] alias::
// tag::alias-def[]
An alias is a secondary name for a group of <<glossary-data-stream,data
streams>> or <<glossary-index,indices>>. Most {es} APIs accept an alias in place
of a data stream or index name. See {ref}/alias.html[Aliases].
// end::alias-def[]

[[glossary-analysis]] analysis::
// tag::analysis-def[]
Process of converting unstructured <<glossary-text,text>> into a format
optimized for search. See {ref}/analysis.html[Text analysis].
// end::analysis-def[]

[[glossary-api-key]] API key::
// tag::api-key-def[]
Unique identifier for authentication in {es}. When
{ref}/encrypting-communications.html[transport layer security (TLS)] is enabled,
all requests must be authenticated using an API key or a username and password.
See the {ref}/security-api-create-api-key.html[Create API key API].
// end::api-key-def[]

[[glossary-auto-follow-pattern]] auto-follow pattern::
// tag::auto-follow-pattern-def[]
<<glossary-index-pattern,Index pattern>> that automatically configures new
<<glossary-index,indices>> as <<glossary-follower-index,follower indices>> for
<<glossary-ccr,{ccr}>>. See {ref}/ccr-auto-follow.html[Manage auto-follow
patterns].
// end::auto-follow-pattern-def[]

[[glossary-cluster]] cluster::
// tag::cluster-def[]
A group of one or more connected {es} <<glossary-node,nodes>>. See
{ref}/scalability.html[Clusters, nodes, and shards].
// end::cluster-def[]

[[glossary-cold-phase]] cold phase::
// tag::cold-phase-def[]
Third possible phase in the <<glossary-index-lifecycle,index lifecycle>>. In the
cold phase, data is no longer updated and seldom <<glossary-query,queried>>. The
data still needs to be searchable, but it’s okay if those queries are slower.
See {ref}/ilm-index-lifecycle.html[Index lifecycle].
// end::cold-phase-def[]

[[glossary-cold-tier]] cold tier::
// tag::cold-tier-def[]
<<glossary-data-tier,Data tier>> that contains <<glossary-node,nodes>> that hold
time series data that is accessed occasionally and not normally updated. See
{ref}/data-tiers.html[Data tiers].
// end::cold-tier-def[]

[[glossary-component-template]] component template::
// tag::component-template-def[]
Building block for creating <<glossary-index-template,index templates>>. A
component template can specify <<glossary-mapping,mappings>>,
{ref}/index-modules.html[index settings], and <<glossary-alias,aliases>>. See
{ref}/index-templates.html[index templates].
// end::component-template-def[]

[[glossary-content-tier]] content tier::
// tag::content-tier-def[]
<<glossary-data-tier,Data tier>> that contains <<glossary-node,nodes>> that
handle the <<glossary-index,indexing>> and <<glossary-query,query>> load for
content, such as a product catalog. See {ref}/data-tiers.html[Data tiers].
// end::content-tier-def[]

[[glossary-ccr]] {ccr} ({ccr-init})::
// tag::ccr-def[]
Replicates <<glossary-data-stream,data streams>> and <<glossary-index,indices>>
from <<glossary-remote-cluster,remote clusters>> in a
<<glossary-local-cluster,local cluster>>. See {ref}/xpack-ccr.html[{ccr-cap}].
// end::ccr-def[]

[[glossary-ccs]] {ccs} (CCS)::
// tag::ccs-def[]
Searches <<glossary-data-stream,data streams>> and <<glossary-index,indices>> on
<<glossary-remote-cluster,remote clusters>> from a
<<glossary-local-cluster,local cluster>>. See
{ref}/modules-cross-cluster-search.html[Search across clusters].
// end::ccs-def[]

[[glossary-data-stream]] data stream::
// tag::data-stream-def[]
Named resource used to manage time series data. A data stream stores data across
multiple backing <<glossary-index,indices>>. See {ref}/data-streams.html[Data
streams].
// end::data-stream-def[]

[[glossary-data-tier]] data tier::
// tag::data-tier-def[]
Collection of <<glossary-node,nodes>> with the same {ref}/modules-node.html[data
role] that typically share the same hardware profile. Data tiers include the
<<glossary-content-tier, content tier>>, <<glossary-hot-tier, hot tier>>,
<<glossary-warm-tier, warm tier>>, <<glossary-cold-tier, cold tier>>, and
<<glossary-frozen-tier,frozen tier>>. See {ref}/data-tiers.html[Data tiers].
// end::data-tier-def[]

[[glossary-delete-phase]] delete phase::
// tag::delete-phase-def[]
Last possible phase in the <<glossary-index-lifecycle,index lifecycle>>. In the
delete phase, an <<glossary-index,index>> is no longer needed and can safely be
deleted. See {ref}/ilm-index-lifecycle.html[Index lifecycle].
// end::delete-phase-def[]

[[glossary-document]] document::
// tag::document-def[]
JSON object containing data stored in {es}. See
{ref}/documents-indices.html[Documents and indices].
// end::document-def[]

[[glossary-eql]]
Event Query Language (EQL)::
// tag::eql-def[]
<<glossary-query,Query>> language for event-based time series data, such as
logs, metrics, and traces. EQL supports matching for event sequences. See
{ref}/eql.html[EQL].
// end::eql-def[]

[[glossary-field]] field::
// tag::field-def[]
Key-value pair in a <<glossary-document,document>>. See
{ref}/mapping.html[Mapping].
// end::field-def[]

[[glossary-filter]] filter::
// tag::filter-def[]
<<glossary-query,Query>> that does not score matching documents. See
{ref}/query-filter-context.html[filter context].
// end::filter-def[]

[[glossary-flush]] flush::
// tag::flush-def[]
Writes data from the {ref}/index-modules-translog.html[transaction log] to disk
for permanent storage. See the {ref}/indices-flush.html[flush API].
// end::flush-def[]

[[glossary-follower-index]] follower index::
// tag::follower-index-def[]
Target <<glossary-index,index>> for <<glossary-ccr,{ccr}>>. A follower index
exists in a <<glossary-local-cluster,local cluster>> and replicates a
<<glossary-leader-index,leader index>>. See {ref}/xpack-ccr.html[{ccr-cap}].
// end::follower-index-def[]

[[glossary-force-merge]] force merge::
// tag::force-merge-def[]
// tag::force-merge-def-short[]
Manually triggers a <<glossary-merge,merge>> to reduce the number of
<<glossary-segment,segments>> in an index's <<glossary-shard,shards>>.
// end::force-merge-def-short[]
See the {ref}/indices-forcemerge.html[force merge API].
// end::force-merge-def[]

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

[[glossary-frozen-tier]] frozen tier::
// tag::frozen-tier-def[]
<<glossary-data-tier,Data tier>> that contains <<glossary-node,nodes>> that
hold time series data that is accessed rarely and not normally updated. See
{ref}/data-tiers.html[Data tiers].
// end::frozen-tier-def[]

[[glossary-hidden-index]] hidden data stream or index::
// tag::hidden-index-def[]
<<glossary-data-stream,Data stream>> or <<glossary-index,index>> excluded from
most <<glossary-index-pattern,index patterns>> by default. See
{ref}/multi-index.html#hidden[Hidden data streams and indices].
// end::hidden-index-def[]

[[glossary-hot-phase]] hot phase::
// tag::hot-phase-def[]
First possible phase in the <<glossary-index-lifecycle,index lifecycle>>. In
the hot phase, an <<glossary-index,index>> is actively updated and queried. See
{ref}/ilm-index-lifecycle.html[Index lifecycle].
// end::hot-phase-def[]

[[glossary-hot-tier]] hot tier::
// tag::hot-tier-def[]
<<glossary-data-tier,Data tier>> that contains <<glossary-node,nodes>> that
handle the <<glossary-index,indexing>> load for time series data, such as logs or
metrics. This tier holds your most recent, most frequently accessed data. See
{ref}/data-tiers.html[Data tiers].
// end::hot-tier-def[]

[[glossary-id]] ID::
// tag::id-def[]
Identifier for a <<glossary-document,document>>. Document IDs must be unique
within an <<glossary-index,index>>. See the {ref}/mapping-id-field.html[`_id`
field].
// end::id-def[]

[[glossary-index]] index::
// tag::index-def[]
. Collection of JSON <<glossary-document,documents>>. See
{ref}/documents-indices.html[Documents and indices].

. To add one or more JSON documents to {es}. This process is called indexing.
// end::index-def[]

[[glossary-index-lifecycle]] index lifecycle::
// tag::index-lifecycle-def[]
Five phases an <<glossary-index,index>> can transition through:
<<glossary-hot-phase,hot>>, <<glossary-warm-phase,warm>>,
<<glossary-cold-phase,cold>>, <<glossary-frozen-phase,frozen>>,
and <<glossary-delete-phase,delete>>. 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 <<glossary-index,index>> moves between phases in the
<<glossary-index-lifecycle,index lifecycle>> and what actions to perform during
each phase. See {ref}/ilm-policy-definition.html[Index lifecycle].
// end::index-lifecycle-policy-def[]

[[glossary-index-pattern]] index pattern::
// tag::index-pattern-def[]
String containing a wildcard (`*`) pattern that can match multiple
<<glossary-data-stream,data streams>>, <<glossary-index,indices>>, or
<<glossary-alias,aliases>>. See {ref}/multi-index.html[Multi-target syntax].
// end::index-pattern-def[]

[[glossary-index-template]] index template::
// tag::index-template-def[]
Automatically configures the <<glossary-mapping,mappings>>,
{ref}/index-modules.html[index settings], and <<glossary-alias,aliases>>
of new <<glossary-index,indices>> that match its <<glossary-index-pattern,index
pattern>>. You can also use index templates to create
<<glossary-data-stream,data streams>>. See {ref}/index-templates.html[Index
templates].
// end::index-template-def[]

[[glossary-leader-index]] leader index::
// tag::leader-index-def[]
Source <<glossary-index,index>> for <<glossary-ccr,{ccr}>>. A leader index
exists on a <<glossary-remote-cluster,remote cluster>> and is replicated to
<<glossary-follower-index,follower indices>>. See
{ref}/xpack-ccr.html[{ccr-cap}].
// end::leader-index-def[]

[[glossary-local-cluster]] local cluster::
// tag::local-cluster-def[]
<<glossary-cluster,Cluster>> that pulls data from a
<<glossary-remote-cluster,remote cluster>> in <<glossary-ccs,{ccs}>> or
<<glossary-ccr,{ccr}>>. See {ref}/modules-remote-clusters.html[Remote clusters].
// end::local-cluster-def[]

[[glossary-mapping]] mapping::
// tag::mapping-def[]
Defines how a <<glossary-document,document>>, its <<glossary-field,fields>>, and
its metadata are stored in {es}. Similar to a schema definition. See
{ref}/mapping.html[Mapping].
// end::mapping-def[]

[[glossary-merge]] merge::
// tag::merge-def[]
Process of combining a <<glossary-shard,shard>>'s smaller Lucene
<<glossary-segment,segments>> into a larger one. {es} manages merges
automatically.
// end::merge-def[]

[[glossary-node]] node::
// tag::node-def[]
A single {es} server. One or more nodes can form a <<glossary-cluster,cluster>>.
See {ref}/scalability.html[Clusters, nodes, and shards].
// end::node-def[]

[[glossary-primary-shard]] primary shard::
// tag::primary-shard-def[]
Lucene instance containing some or all data for an <<glossary-index,index>>.
When you index a <<glossary-document,document>>, {es} adds the document to
primary shards before <<glossary-replica-shard,replica shards>>. See
{ref}/scalability.html[Clusters, nodes, and shards].
// end::primary-shard-def[]

[[glossary-query]] query::
// tag::query-def[]
Request for information about your data. You can think of a query as a
question, written in a way {es} understands. See
{ref}/search-your-data.html[Search your data].
// end::query-def[]

[[glossary-recovery]] recovery::
// tag::recovery-def[]
Process of syncing a <<glossary-replica-shard,replica shard>> from a
<<glossary-primary-shard,primary shard>>. Upon completion, the replica shard is
available for searches. See the {ref}/indices-recovery.html[index recovery API].
// end::recovery-def[]

[[glossary-reindex]] reindex::
// tag::reindex-def[]
Copies documents from a source to a destination. The source and destination can
be a <<glossary-data-stream,data stream>>, <<glossary-index,index>>, or
<<glossary-alias,alias>>. See the {ref}/docs-reindex.html[Reindex API].
// end::reindex-def[]

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

[[glossary-replica-shard]] replica shard::
// tag::replica-shard-def[]
Copy of a <<glossary-primary-shard,primary shard>>. Replica shards can improve
search performance and resiliency by distributing data across multiple
<<glossary-node,nodes>>. See {ref}/scalability.html[Clusters, nodes, and
shards].
// end::replica-shard-def[]

[[glossary-rollover]] rollover::
// tag::rollover-def[]
// tag::rollover-def-short[]
Creates a new write index when the current one reaches a certain size, number of
docs, or age.
// end::rollover-def-short[]
A rollover can target a <<glossary-data-stream,data stream>> or an
<<glossary-alias,alias>> with a write index.
// end::rollover-def[]

[[glossary-rollup]] rollup::
// tag::rollup-def[]
Summarizes high-granularity data into a more compressed format to maintain access
to historical data in a cost-effective way. See
{ref}/xpack-rollup.html[Roll up your data].
// end::rollup-def[]

[[glossary-rollup-index]] rollup index::
// tag::rollup-index-def[]
Special type of <<glossary-index,index>> for storing historical data at reduced
granularity. Documents are summarized and indexed into a rollup index by a
<<glossary-rollup-job,rollup job>>. See {ref}/xpack-rollup.html[Rolling up
historical data].
// end::rollup-index-def[]

[[glossary-rollup-job]] rollup job::
// tag::rollup-job-def[]
Background task that runs continuously to summarize documents in an
<<glossary-index,index>> and index the summaries into a separate rollup index.
The job configuration controls what data is rolled up and how often. See
{ref}/xpack-rollup.html[Rolling up historical data].
// end::rollup-job-def[]

[[glossary-routing]] routing::
// tag::routing-def[]
Process of sending and retrieving data from a specific
<<glossary-primary-shard,primary shard>>. {es} uses a hashed routing value to
choose this shard. You can provide a routing value in
<<glossary-index,indexing>> and search requests to take advantage of caching.
See the {ref}/mapping-routing-field.html[`_routing` field].
// end::routing-def[]

[[glossary-runtime-fields]] runtime field::
// tag::runtime-fields-def[]
<<glossary-field,Field>> that is evaluated at query time. You access runtime
fields from the search API like any other field, and {es} sees runtime fields no
differently. See {ref}/runtime.html[Runtime fields].
// end::runtime-fields-def[]

[[glossary-searchable-snapshot]] searchable snapshot::
// tag::searchable-snapshot-def[]
<<glossary-snapshot,Snapshot>> of an <<glossary-index,index>> mounted as a
<<glossary-searchable-snapshot-index,searchable snapshot index>>. You can search
this index like a regular index. See {ref}/searchable-snapshots.html[searchable
snapshots].
// end::searchable-snapshot-def[]

[[glossary-searchable-snapshot-index]] searchable snapshot index::
// tag::searchable-snapshot-index-def[]
<<glossary-index,Index>> whose data is stored in a
<<glossary-snapshot,snapshot>>. Searchable snapshot indices do not need
<<glossary-replica-shard,replica shards>> for resilience, since their data is
reliably stored outside the cluster. See
{ref}/searchable-snapshots.html[searchable snapshots].
// end::searchable-snapshot-index-def[]

[[glossary-segment]] segment::
// tag::segment-def[]
Data file in a <<glossary-shard,shard>>'s Lucene instance. {es} manages Lucene
segments automatically.
// end::segment-def[]

[[glossary-shard]] shard::
// tag::shard-def[]
Lucene instance containing some or all data for an <<glossary-index,index>>.
{es} automatically creates and manages these Lucene instances. There are two
types of shards: <<glossary-primary-shard,primary>> and
<<glossary-replica-shard,replica>>. See {ref}/scalability.html[Clusters, nodes,
and shards].
// end::shard-def[]

[[glossary-shrink]] shrink::
// tag::shrink-def[]
// tag::shrink-def-short[]
Reduces the number of <<glossary-primary-shard,primary shards>> in an index.
// end::shrink-def-short[]
See the {ref}/indices-shrink-index.html[shrink index API].
// end::shrink-def[]

[[glossary-snapshot]] snapshot::
// tag::snapshot-def[]
Backup taken of a running <<glossary-cluster,cluster>>. You can take snapshots
of the entire cluster or only specific <<glossary-data-stream,data streams>> and
<<glossary-index,indices>>. See {ref}/snapshot-restore.html[Snapshot and
restore].
// 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 <<glossary-snapshot,snapshots>>. See
{ref}/snapshot-lifecycle-management.html[Manage the snapshot lifecycle]
// end::snapshot-lifecycle-policy-def[]

[[glossary-snapshot-repository]] snapshot repository::
// tag::snapshot-repository-def[]
Location where <<glossary-snapshot,snapshots>> are stored. A snapshot repository
can be a shared filesystem or a remote repository, such as Azure or Google Cloud
Storage. See {ref}/snapshot-restore.html[Snapshot and restore].
// end::snapshot-repository-def[]

[[glossary-source_field]] source field::
// tag::source-field-def[]
Original JSON object provided during <<glossary-index,indexing>>. See the
{ref}/mapping-source-field.html[`_source` field].
// end::source-field-def[]

[[glossary-split]] split::
// tag::split-def[]
Adds more <<glossary-primary-shard,primary shards>> to an
<<glossary-index,index>>. See the {ref}/indices-split-index.html[split index
API].
// end::split-def[]

[[glossary-system-index]] system index::
// tag::system-index-def[]
<<glossary-index,Index>> containing configurations and other data used
internally by the {stack}. System index names start with a dot (`.`), such as
`.security`. Do not directly access or change system indices.
// end::system-index-def[]

[[glossary-term]] term::
// tag::term-def[]
See {ref}/glossary.html#glossary-token[token].
// end::term-def[]

[[glossary-text]] text::
// tag::text-def[]
Unstructured content, such as a product description or log message. You
typically <<glossary-analysis,analyze>> text for better search. See
{ref}/analysis.html[Text analysis].
// end::text-def[]

[[glossary-token]] token::
// tag::token-def[]
A chunk of unstructured <<glossary-text,text>> that's been optimized for search.
In most cases, tokens are individual words. Tokens are also called terms. See
{ref}/analysis.html[Text analysis].
// end::token-def[]

[[glossary-tokenization]] tokenization::
// tag::tokenization-def[]
Process of breaking unstructured text down into smaller, searchable chunks
called <<glossary-token,tokens>>. See
{ref}/analysis-overview.html#tokenization[Tokenization].
// end::tokenization-def[]

[[glossary-warm-phase]] warm phase::
// tag::warm-phase-def[]
Second possible phase in the <<glossary-index-lifecycle,index lifecycle>>. In
the warm phase, an <<glossary-index,index>> is generally optimized for search
and no longer updated. See {ref}/ilm-policy-definition.html[Index lifecycle].
// end::warm-phase-def[]

[[glossary-warm-tier]] warm tier::
// tag::warm-tier-def[]
<<glossary-data-tier,Data tier>> that contains <<glossary-node,nodes>> that hold
time series data that is accessed less frequently and rarely needs to be
updated. See {ref}/data-tiers.html[Data tiers].
// end::warm-tier-def[]