# Log Traces

> Monitor and analyze log traces effectively with Opik to improve system observability and troubleshoot issues efficiently.

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## Getting Started with Opik Tracing

This hands-on video demonstrates how to implement [tracing](/tracing/log_traces) in Opik, the foundation of LLM observability. You'll learn how [traces](/tracing/log_traces) capture complete interactions between your application and LLMs (inputs, outputs, metadata, and [feedback scores](/tracing/annotate_traces)), and see step-by-step implementation using [OpenAI](/integrations/openai) as an example. Think of traces as the equivalent of logs in traditional software, but specifically designed for LLM applications.

## Key Highlights

* **Simple Setup**: Configure Opik with just your API key and workspace settings - optionally set project names to organize [traces](/tracing/log_traces)
* **Multiple [Integration](/integrations/overview) Methods**: Use dedicated [integrations](/integrations/openai) (like [`track_openai`](/tracing/log_traces#using-an-integration)) for automatic tracing, or the `@track` decorator for custom function tracing
* **Rich Trace Visualization**: View complete interaction flows in the Opik UI with inputs, outputs, and hierarchical [spans](/tracing/log_traces) for multi-step processes
* **Powerful Filtering & Search**: Filter [traces](/tracing/log_traces) by time ranges, tags, [feedback scores](/tracing/annotate_traces), and search by specific trace IDs for production debugging
* **Framework Support**: Dedicated [integrations](/integrations/overview) available for popular frameworks like [LangChain](/integrations/langchain), [LlamaIndex](/integrations/llama-index), and others
* **Automatic Span Creation**: Multi-step applications and RAG workflows automatically generate [spans](/tracing/log_traces) for each step, providing complete process visibility
* **Function-Level Tracing**: The [`@track`](/tracing/log_traces#decorators) decorator creates detailed trace stacks that mirror your function structure, making debugging intuitive
* **Production-Ready**: Tag system and filtering capabilities make it easy to organize and analyze [traces](/tracing/log_traces) from production environments