---
title: Examples of Kibana logging configurations
description: Here are some configuration examples for the most common logging use cases: Log the default log format to a file instead of to stdout (the default). Log...
url: https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/3016/deploy-manage/monitor/logging-configuration/kibana-log-settings-examples
products:
  - Kibana
applies_to:
  - Self-managed Elastic deployments: Generally available
---

# Examples of Kibana logging configurations
Here are some configuration examples for the most common logging use cases:

## Log to a file

Log the default log format to a file instead of to stdout (the default).
```yaml
logging:
  appenders:
    file:
      type: file
      fileName: /var/log/kibana.log
      layout:
        type: pattern
  root:
    appenders: [file]
```


## Log in JSON format

Log the default log format to JSON layout instead of pattern (the default). With `json` layout, log messages will be formatted as JSON strings in [ECS format](https://docs-v3-preview.elastic.dev/elastic/docs-builder/docs/3016/reference/ecs) that includes a timestamp, log level, logger, message text and any other metadata that may be associated with the log message itself.
```yaml
logging:
  appenders:
    json-layout:
      type: console
      layout:
        type: json
  root:
    appenders: [json-layout]
```


## Log with meta to stdout

Include `%meta` in your pattern layout:
```yaml
logging:
  appenders:
    console-meta:
      type: console
      layout:
        type: pattern
        pattern: "[%date] [%level] [%logger] [%meta] %message"
  root:
    appenders: [console-meta]
```


## Log Elasticsearch queries

```yaml
logging:
  appenders:
    console_appender:
      type: console
      layout:
        type: pattern
        highlight: true
  root:
    appenders: [console_appender]
    level: warn
  loggers:
    - name: elasticsearch.query
      level: debug
```


## Change overall log level

```yaml
logging:
  root:
    level: debug
```


## Customize specific log records

Here is a detailed configuration example that can be used to configure *loggers*, *appenders* and *layouts*:
```yaml
logging:
  appenders:
    console:
      type: console
      layout:
        type: pattern
        highlight: true
    file:
      type: file
      fileName: /var/log/kibana.log
    custom:
      type: console
      layout:
        type: pattern
        pattern: "[%date][%level] %message"
    json-file-appender:
      type: file
      fileName: /var/log/kibana-json.log
      layout:
        type: json

  root:
    appenders: [console, file]
    level: error

  loggers:
    - name: plugins
      appenders: [custom]
      level: warn
    - name: plugins.myPlugin
      level: info
    - name: server
      level: fatal
    - name: optimize
      appenders: [console]
    - name: telemetry
      appenders: [json-file-appender]
      level: all
    - name: metrics.ops
      appenders: [console]
      level: debug
```

Here is what we get with the config above:

| Context name     | Appenders          | Level |
|------------------|--------------------|-------|
| root             | console, file      | error |
| plugins          | custom             | warn  |
| plugins.myPlugin | custom             | info  |
| server           | console, file      | fatal |
| optimize         | console            | error |
| telemetry        | json-file-appender | all   |
| metrics.ops      | console            | debug |