---
title: "Tracing"
description: "Automatically track your AI apps with OpenTelemetry to gain insights into performance and behavior"
---

OpenLIT provides OpenTelemetry Auto instrumentation for various LLM providers, frameworks, and VectorDBs, providing you with insights into the behavior and performance of your LLM applications.

This documentation covers tracing settings, understanding semantic conventions, and interpreting span attributes to enhance the monitoring and observability of your LLM applications.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Quickstart" href="/latest/quickstart" icon="bolt">
    Get Started with monitoring your AI Applications in 2 simple steps
  </Card>
  <Card title="Connections" href="/latest/connections/intro" icon="link">
    Connect to your existing Observablity Stack
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Using an existing OTel Tracer

You have the flexibility to integrate your existing OpenTelemetry (OTel) tracer configuration with OpenLIT.
If you already have an OTel tracer instantiated in your application, you can pass it directly to `openlit.init(tracer=tracer)`.
This integration ensures that OpenLIT utilizes your custom tracer settings, allowing for a unified tracing setup across your application.

Example:

```python
# Instantiate an OpenTelemetry Tracer
tracer = ...

# Pass the tracer to OpenLIT
openlit.init(tracer=tracer)
```

## Add custom resource attributes

The [`OTEL_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES`](https://opentelemetry.io/docs/languages/sdk-configuration/general/#otel_resource_attributes) environment variable allows you to provide additional OpenTelemetry resource attributes when starting your application with OpenLIT. OpenLIT already includes some default resource attributes:

- `telemetry.sdk.name: openlit`
- `service.name: YOUR_SERVICE_NAME`
- `deployment.environment: YOUR_ENVIRONMENT_NAME`

You can enhance these default resource attributes by adding your own using the `OTEL_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES` variable. Your custom attributes will be added on top of the existing OpenLIT attributes, providing additional context to your telemetry data. Simply format your attributes as `key1=value1,key2=value2`.

For example:

```shell
export OTEL_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES="service.instance.id=YOUR_SERVICE_ID,k8s.pod.name=K8S_POD_NAME,k8s.namespace.name=K8S_NAMESPACE,k8s.node.name=K8S_NODE_NAME"
```

## Disable Tracing of Content

By default, OpenLIT adds the prompts and completions to Trace span attributes.

However, you may want to disable this logging for privacy reasons, as they may contain highly sensitive data from your users. You may also simply want to reduce the size of your traces.

Example:

```python
openlit.init(trace_content=False)
```

## Disable Batch

By default, the SDK batches spans using the OpenTelemetry batch span processor. When working locally, sometimes you may wish to disable this behavior. You can do that with this flag.

Example:

```python
openlit.init(disable_batch=True)
```

## Disable Instrumentations

By default, OpenLIT automatically detects which models and frameworks you are using and instruments them for you. You can override this and disable instrumentation for specific frameworks and models.

Example:

```python
openlit.init(disabled_instrumentors=["anthropic", "langchain"])
```

## Manual Tracing

Using `openlit.trace`, you get access to manually create traces, allowing you to record every process within a single function.

```python python
@openlit.trace
def generate_one_liner():
    completion = client.chat.completions.create(
        model="gpt-3.5-turbo",
        messages=[
            {
                "role": "system",
                "content": "Return a one liner from any movie for me to guess",
            }
        ],
    )
```

The `trace` function automatically groups any LLM function invoked within `generate_one_liner`, providing you with organized groupings right out of the box.

You can do more with traces by running the `start_trace` context generator:

```python python
with openlit.start_trace(name="<GIVE_TRACE_A_NAME>") as trace:
    # your code
```

Use `trace.set_result('')` to set the final result of the trace and `trace.set_metadata({})` to add custom metadata.

**Full Example**

```python python
@openlit.trace
def generate_one_liner():
    completion = client.chat.completions.create(
        model="gpt-3.5-turbo",
        messages=[
            {
                "role": "system",
                "content": "Return a one liner from any movie for me to guess",
            }
        ],
    )

def guess_one_liner(one_liner: str):
    with openlit.start_trace("Guess One-liner") as trace:
        completion = client.chat.completions.create(
            model="gpt-3.5-turbo",
            messages=[
                {
                    "role": "user",
                    "content": f"Guess movie from this line: {one_liner}",
                }
            ],
        )
        trace.set_result(completion.choices[0].message.content)
```

## Semantic Convention

This section outlines the OpenTelemetry traces collected by **OpenLIT** from applications utilizing Large Language Models (LLMs) and Vector Databases. The span attributes adhere to the [GenAI Semantic Conventions](https://github.com/open-telemetry/semantic-conventions/tree/main/docs/gen-ai) established by the OpenTelemetry community, ensuring standardized data collection that enhances monitoring and debugging capabilities.

### Span Definitions

This section outlines fundamental definitions related to span types and names used within the OpenTelemetry traces to identify the nature and source of requests.

| Attribute     | Description                                                                             | Examples                  |
| ------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------- |
| **Span kind** | Will always be `CLIENT` when the trace is generated successfully.                       | `CLIENT`                  |
| **Span name** | Is set to the LLM endpoint which follows the convention `provider_name.operation_name`. | `openai.chat.completions` |

### General Span Attributes

General span attributes encapsulate the environmental and operational context of AI applications, offering insights into where and how the spans are generated.

| Attribute                 | Type   | Description                                                            | Examples                                                                                                                                                   |
| ------------------------- | ------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `gen_ai.endpoint`         | string | The API endpoint used for the LLM request.                             | `cohere.chat`                                                                                                                                              |
| `gen_ai.system`           | string | The Generative AI product as identified by the client instrumentation. | `openai`, `cohere`, `anthropic`, `groq`, `huggingface`, `azure_openai`, `mistral`, `bedrock`, `vertexai`, `ollama`, `langchain`, `llama_index`, `haystack` |
| `gen_ai.environment`      | string | Deployment environment of the LLM.                                     | `production`                                                                                                                                               |
| `gen_ai.application_name` | string | The name of the application using the LLM.                             | `chatbot_app`                                                                                                                                              |
| `gen_ai.operation.name`   | string | The type of LLM operation performed.                                   | `chat`, `embedding`, `audio`, `image`, `fine_tuning`, `vectordb`, `framework`                                                                              |
| `gen_ai.hub.owner`        | string | The owner of the prompt hub where the prompt is hosted.                | `openai`                                                                                                                                                   |
| `gen_ai.hub.repo`         | string | The repository within the hub from which the model is used.            | `gpt-4`                                                                                                                                                    |
| `gen_ai.retrieval.source` | string | Source from which the model was retrieved.                             | `slack`                                                                                                                                                    |
| `telemetry.sdk.name`      | string | Source of the generated traces                                         | `openlit`                                                                                                                                                  |

### GenAI/LLM Span Attributes

#### Request Attributes

These attributes detail the specifics of requests sent to LLMs, including configurations and parameters that define the behavior and responses of the LLM.

| Attribute                                 | Type    | Description                                                       | Examples          |
| ----------------------------------------- | ------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------- |
| `gen_ai.request.model`                    | string  | The name of the LLM a request is being made to.                   | `gpt-4`           |
| `gen_ai.request.temperature`              | double  | The temperature setting for the LLM request.                      | `0.0`             |
| `gen_ai.request.top_p`                    | double  | The top_p sampling setting for the LLM request.                   | `1.0`             |
| `gen_ai.request.top_k`                    | double  | The top_k sampling setting for the LLM request.                   | `1.0`             |
| `gen_ai.request.max_tokens`               | int     | The maximum number of tokens the LLM generates for a request.     | `100`             |
| `gen_ai.request.is_stream`                | boolean | Indicates if the request to LLM is a stream.                      | `true`            |
| `gen_ai.request.user`                     | string  | Username or identifier for the user making the request.           | `user123`         |
| `gen_ai.request.seed`                     | int     | Seed used to generate deterministic results from the LLM.         | `42`              |
| `gen_ai.request.frequency_penalty`        | double  | Frequency penalty parameter in the LLM request.                   | `0.5`             |
| `gen_ai.request.presence_penalty`         | double  | Presence penalty parameter in the LLM request.                    | `0.5`             |
| `gen_ai.request.embedding_format`         | string  | Format of embeddings requested from the LLM.                      | `json`            |
| `gen_ai.request.embedding_dimension`      | int     | Dimensionality of the generated embeddings.                       | `512`             |
| `gen_ai.request.tool_choice`              | string  | Tool or library chosen for processing the LLM request.            | `PyTorch`         |
| `gen_ai.request.audio_voice`              | string  | Voice setting for audio generated by LLM.                         | `alto`            |
| `gen_ai.request.audio_response_format`    | string  | The format of the audio response from the LLM.                    | `mp3`             |
| `gen_ai.request.audio_speed`              | double  | Speed setting for audio responses generated by the LLM.           | `1.0`             |
| `gen_ai.request.fine_tune_status`         | string  | Status or mode of finetuning the model.                           | `active`          |
| `gen_ai.request.fine_tune_model_suffix`   | string  | Suffix describing specifics of the finetuned model version.       | `v2`              |
| `gen_ai.request.fine_tune_n_epochs`       | int     | Number of epochs used in training the finetuned model.            | `4`               |
| `gen_ai.request.learning_rate_multiplier` | double  | Learning rate multiplier used in finetuning.                      | `0.7`             |
| `gen_ai.request.fine_tune_batch_size`     | int     | Batch size used in the finetuning process.                        | `16`              |
| `gen_ai.request.validation_file`          | string  | Location or type of validation file used in the training process. | `val_data.json`   |
| `gen_ai.request.training_file`            | string  | Location or type of training file used for the LLM.               | `train_data.json` |
| `gen_ai.request.image_size`               | string  | Size specifications for the generated image.                      | `1024x768`        |
| `gen_ai.request.image_quality`            | int     | Quality parameter for the generated image, usually a percentage.  | `90`              |
| `gen_ai.request.image_style`              | string  | Style or theme of the generated image.                            | `van_gogh`        |

#### Response Attributes

Attributes in this category help trace and understand responses from LLMs, encapsulating data relevant to outcomes and any content generated as a result.

| Attribute                        | Type   | Description                                                      | Examples                       |
| -------------------------------- | ------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------ |
| `gen_ai.response.id`             | string | The unique identifier for the response.                          | `resp-456`                     |
| `gen_ai.response.finish_reasons` | string | Reasons the model stopped generating tokens.                     | `stop`                         |
| `gen_ai.response.image`          | string | The image content generated by the LLM.                          | `<image URL or base64 string>` |

#### Usage Attributes

These attributes track the consumption and costs associated with LLM requests, facilitating operational analysis and resource management.

| Attribute                        | Type    | Description                                                        | Examples |
| -------------------------------- | ------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | -------- |
| `gen_ai.usage.input_tokens`      | int     | The number of tokens used in the LLM input.                        | `100`    |
| `gen_ai.usage.output_tokens`     | int     | The number of tokens used in the LLM output.                       | `180`    |
| `gen_ai.usage.total_tokens`      | int     | The total number of tokens used in both the prompt and completion. | `280`    |
| `gen_ai.usage.cost`              | decimal | The cost (in USD) associated with the LLM request                  | `0.05`   |

#### Content Attributes

Content attributes specifically relate to the data exchanged with LLMs during requests and responses, including initial prompts and resulting outputs.

| Attribute                       | Type   | Description                                | Example Value                          |
| ------------------------------- | ------ | ------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------- |
| `gen_ai.prompt`                 | string | The full prompt sent to the LLM.           | `"What is the capital of France?"`     |
| `gen_ai.completion`             | string | The full response received from the LLM.   | `"The capital of France is Paris."`    |
| `gen_ai.content.revised_prompt` | string | Revised or modified prompt, if applicable. | `"What's the capital city of France?"` |

### VectorDB Span Attributes

This section addresses attributes related to interactions with Vector Databases supporting the LLM operations, providing insights into database operations and related parameters.

| Attribute                 | Type    | Description                                                        | Example Value                                                                                                                      |
| ------------------------- | ------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `db.system`               | string  | System type of the database.                                       | `pinecone`, `chroma`, `qdrant`, `milvus`                                                                                           |
| `db.collection.name`      | string  | Name of the collection within the database.                        | `user_profiles`                                                                                                                    |
| `db.operation`            | string  | Type of database operation performed.                              | `query`, `delete`, `update`, `upsert`,`add`, `peek`, `create_index`, `create_collection`, `update_collection`, `delete_collection` |
| `db.operation.status`     | string  | Status result of the operation (e.g., success, error).             | `completed`                                                                                                                        |
| `db.operation.cost`       | decimal | Cost associated with the operation, if applicable.                 | `0.0`                                                                                                                              |
| `db.ids_count`            | int     | Count of ids processed or retrieved in an operation.               | `150`                                                                                                                              |
| `db.vector_count`         | int     | Number of vectors involved in the operation.                       | `320`                                                                                                                              |
| `db.metadatas_count`      | int     | Count of metadata entries retrieved or modified.                   | `120`                                                                                                                              |
| `db.documents_count`      | int     | The number of documents involved in the database operation.        | `85`                                                                                                                               |
| `db.payload_count`        | int     | Payload count associated with the operation.                       | `45`                                                                                                                               |
| `db.limit`                | int     | Limit number for query results.                                    | `50`                                                                                                                               |
| `db.offset`               | int     | The offset for the starting point of the query results.            | `10`                                                                                                                               |
| `db.where_document`       | string  | Filter document condition used in operations like query or update. | `"age > 30"`                                                                                                                       |
| `db.filter`               | string  | Applied filters on database query.                                 | `"{ 'status': 'active' }"`                                                                                                         |
| `db.statement`            | string  | Raw database query statement.                                      | `[0.1, 0.3]`                                                                                                                       |
| `db.n_results`            | int     | Number of results returned from a query operation.                 | `15`                                                                                                                               |
| `db.delete_all`           | boolean | Indicates if all records are to be deleted in the operation.       | `false`                                                                                                                            |
| `db.index.name`           | string  | Name of the index used or modified.                                | `user_index`                                                                                                                       |
| `db.index.dimension`      | int     | Dimension of the index involved in the database operation.         | `128`                                                                                                                              |
| `db.collection.dimension` | int     | Dimensionality configuration of the collection.                    | `128`                                                                                                                              |
| `db.create_index.metric`  | string  | Metric type used for creating indexes.                             | `"euclidean"`                                                                                                                      |
| `db.create_index.spec`    | string  | Specifications of the index created.                               | `"type: kd-tree; leaf_size: 40"`                                                                                                   |
| `db.query.namespace`      | string  | Namespace used for structuring database queries.                   | `"product_catalog"`                                                                                                                |
| `db.update.metadata`      | string  | Metadata being updated as part of the operation.                   | `"category: electronics"`                                                                                                          |
| `db.update.values`        | string  | Specifies the new values being applied in an update operation.     | `"{ 'price': '99.99' }"`                                                                                                           |
| `db.update.id`            | string  | Unique identifier for the entry being updated.                     | `"product123"`                                                                                                                     |

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card
    title="Integrations"
    href="/latest/integrations/introduction"
    icon="circle-nodes"
  >
    Integrate your AI Stack with OpenLIT
  </Card>
  <Card title="Connections" href="/latest/connections/intro" icon="link">
    Connect to your existing Observablity Stack
  </Card>
</CardGroup>