About (Web) Programming, Linux, Database and Open Source

Log is very important for a system. With it we can monitor the system that currently running, and make easy to trace the really source problem on the system

For PHP programmer, you don't need to be headache to think how make proper log in your PHP application. With Zend_Log, all your need to make proper log has suffice.

Zend_Log is a part from Zend Framework that purpose for logging. If you are not familiar with Zend Framework, you can use Zend_Log separately from Zend Framework

Here is some features of Zend_Log:

• Support multiple log backend, like database, file or output buffer
• Formating log
• Filtering log

Support Multiple Log Backend
Location of the log is an important thing. For PHP application that run on console, log can be displayed in the console with write log to output buffer (STDIN/STDOUT). For permanent log and to trace easily on the future, so log must be save on file or database.

Formatting Log
Log format has important influence to get easily read the log. For troubleshooting on the future we need to see time of error, cause of error and other information.

Filtering Log
Sometimes we need to separate log, that log must be saved on a file or database. Example, we have some modules on the system. And log of module A will save the log on a file, whereas log of other modules will be saved on database.

Now, we have know some features of Zend_Log, and the next article will
explain about installation and some terminologies that will be encountered on Zend_Log usage.