What are .LOG files and how to open, view and edit them
If you work with software and operating systems, then you may come across the .LOG format.
In this guide we’ll teach you everything you need to know about LOG files. We’ll cover what .LOG files are, what they are used for and how to open and edit a .LOG file.
What is a .LOG file?
A .LOG file, also sometimes known simply as a ‘logfile', is typically used by software or operating systems to keep track of certain events that occur.
LOG files can be used for anything that the system or programme deems appropriate to record. For example, antivirus software may use a LOG file to keep track of any files that were checked or missed during a scan and any files that were marked as malicious.
What does .LOG stand for?
Essentially, a LOG file does exactly what its name suggests. It stores or ‘logs’ certain events that occur in an operating system or software, such as problems or errors. A message or ‘log’ entry is then recorded for each event.
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History of the .LOG file.
LOG files are utilised by almost every operational system or piece of software and have been in use for many years - potentially as long as computers have been creating text and recording tasks.
What are .LOG files used for?
LOG files are commonly used to store a series of events logged by a computer. But they can be used for many other purposes as well. These include:
Installation monitoring.
Software installers use LOG files to keep track of any files that were added during the installation process. This includes the date and time each file was added and a directory of where each file has been placed.
Web server monitoring.
Web servers use LOG files to record data about website visitors, such as:
- The IP address of each visitor
- The time of the visit
- Any pages they visit.
LOG files can also include information relating to any images or files that have been loaded during the visit.
Application monitoring.
These days, there are plenty of businesses and organisations that use LOG files to monitor their applications. You can view these in a built-in console application.
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Pros and cons of .LOG files.
Like any technology, there are pros and cons to consider with the .LOG file format.
Pros.
- Automatically generated. Your computer will automatically generate LOG files whenever an event takes place. This makes it easier for you to trace and address any issues.
- Monitor your system. LOG files include a historical record of everything that happens within the system. You can use this to monitor your computer’s performance and solve problems.
- Detect bugs and errors. LOG files can help you to identify any bugs or errors that may be slowing down your system or interfering with its performance.
Cons.
- Catching and proxies. LOG files can only record data from direct server access, so any access from a browser’s cache memory or via proxy services will not be included.
- Regular updates needed. To make sure LOG files provide accurate information, you’ll need to ensure your software is up to date.
- Can take up a lot of hard-drive space. Because LOG files are generated automatically, they can quickly take up hard-drive space. Of course, this will depend on the amount of data they are collecting.
How to open a .LOG file.
The data contained within a LOG file is regular text. As a result, you can open a .LOG file in any basic text editor. By default, Windows uses Notepad to open LOG files.
Here’s how to open a .LOG file in Notepad:
- Locate your LOG file.
- Double click the file to open it.
- Your LOG file should automatically open.
Alternatively, you can open a .LOG file in your web browser. Just drag it directly into the browser window or hit ‘Ctrl+O’. This will open a dialogue box, where you can manually search for the file.
How to create and edit a .LOG file.
You can create a LOG file without using a compiler and you don’t need to save it in the .LOG format. The easiest way to create a LOG file is to use Notepad and save it as a regular .TXT file.
Here’s how:
- Press the Windows key and search ‘Notepad’.
- Open the application and type ‘.LOG’. on the first line of the black page.
- Press ‘ENTER’ to move to the next line.
- Click the ‘File’ button in the top left-hand corner and hit ‘Save As’.
- Give your file a name and click ‘OK’.
Once you’ve created a LOG file, Notepad will automatically insert the date and time after the last line.
How to open a .LOG file as a .PDF.
Yes, you can convert a LOG file to a PDF. In most cases, LOG files are saved in the standard text format, which means you can easily convert them to a PDF. If you create a LOG file in Notepad and save it under the .TXT extension, you can convert it to a PDF in minutes using the Adobe convert to PDF tool.
Learn more about similar file types to .LOG.
Discover more about the plain text file, which you can open and edit in any text-editing or word processing programme.
Learn more about the file type that contains data in a text and binary format.
Find out everything you need to know about the standard format for saving documents in Microsoft Word.
Explore the message file used by email applications such as Microsoft Outlook and Apple Mail.
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.LOG FAQs.
What is the difference between a .LOG file and a .TXT file?
A .LOG file and a .TXT file are both types of text file. However, the main difference between the two is that .LOG files will usually be automatically generated by operating systems and programmes, while users tend to manually create TXT files.
How do I view .LOG files in Windows 10?
If you’re a Windows 10 user, you’ll be able to view LOG files in ‘Event Viewer’. To open Event Viewer, just press the Windows key and search for ‘Event Viewer’. Then open the application and select the ‘Windows Logs’ tab. From here, you’ll find a series of Windows LOGS relating to the application, set up, system and security.
Why are .LOG files important?
LOG files are important as they can tell you whether your system is performing as it should be. They can also help you to identify any or bugs or errors that may be slowing down your system.
What happens when you delete .LOG files?
Deleting a LOG file will temporarily remove it. Once a LOG file has been deleted, you will no longer be able to view any data from the deleted file. However, if you accidentally delete a LOG file or need to recover it, then you may be able to do so using data recovery software.