Correlation ID

Noun · Development

Definitions

  1. A unique identifier generated at the entry point of a request and propagated through all downstream services, appearing in every log line and trace span. Enables correlating logs from multiple services for a single user request. Also called request ID or trace ID. Without it, debugging a distributed system is like finding a needle in a haystack.

    In plain English: A unique ID attached to a request that follows it through every service, making it easy to trace problems.

    Example: "Search for correlation_id=req_abc123 in the log aggregator -- it shows the request's journey through the API gateway, auth service, and database."

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