Distribution Widget

Distribution Widget

The Distribution visualization shows data aggregated across one or several tags, such as hosts. Unlike the heat map, a distribution graph’s x-axis is quantity rather than time.

This visualization displays only a single query; additional queries are disregarded.

Note: Outlier detection cannot be performed for this visualization.

Distribution graph

Setup

Distribution graph editor view

Configuration

Configure your query as usual. The Distribution visualization supports metrics, live processes, APM request latency, log events, and RUM events. Note: This visualization type is useful only when data is aggregated across tag keys, such as for each host. Make a selection in the “avg/max/min/sum by/etc.” control to see your data across the associated tags.

Options

Display preference

Display preferences
Global time

On screenboards only, choose whether your widget has a custom timeframe or the screenboard’s global timeframe.

Markers

With APM request distributions, you can add percentiles markers on the x-axis.

Marker control preferences

X-axis and Y-axis controls

Axis controls are available through the UI and the JSON editor.

They allow you to:

  • Clip the x and y-axes to specific ranges.
  • Automatically change x-axis bounds based on a percentage or an absolute value threshold. This threshold can be applied to one or both ends of the graph (lower and upper) in order to remove “outlier” bins.
  • Change the y-axis scale from linear to log.
Distribution axis control preferences

Title

Display a custom title for your widget by activating the Show a Title check box:

Widget title

Optionally define its size and alignment.

Full screen

In addition to the standard full screen options, you can use x-axis controls to zoom in to a specific percentile.

Distribution full screen graph

API

This widget can be used with the Dashboards API. See the Dashboards API documentation for additional reference.

The dedicated widget JSON schema definition for the distribution widget is:

Expand All

Field

Type

Description

legend_size

string

DEPRECATED: (Deprecated) The widget legend was replaced by a tooltip and sidebar.

markers

[object]

List of markers.

display_type

string

Combination of:

  • A severity error, warning, ok, or info
  • A line type: dashed, solid, or bold In this case of a Distribution widget, this can be set to be x_axis_percentile.

label

string

Label to display over the marker.

time

string

Timestamp for the widget.

value [required]

string

Value to apply. Can be a single value y = 15 or a range of values 0 < y < 10.

requests [required]

[object]

Array of one request object to display in the widget.

See the dedicated Request JSON schema documentation to learn how to build the REQUEST_SCHEMA.

apm_query

object

The log query.

compute

object

Define computation for a log query.

aggregation [required]

string

The aggregation method.

facet

string

Facet name.

interval

int64

Define a time interval in seconds.

group_by

[object]

List of tag prefixes to group by in the case of a cluster check.

facet [required]

string

Facet name.

limit

int64

Maximum number of items in the group.

sort

object

Define a sorting method.

aggregation [required]

string

The aggregation method.

facet

string

Facet name.

order [required]

enum

Widget sorting methods. Allowed enum values: asc,desc

index

string

A coma separated-list of index names. Use "*" query all indexes at once. Multiple Indexes

multi_compute

[object]

This field is mutually exclusive with compute.

aggregation [required]

string

The aggregation method.

facet

string

Facet name.

interval

int64

Define a time interval in seconds.

search

object

The query being made on the logs.

query [required]

string

Search value to apply.

apm_stats_query

object

The APM stats query for table and distributions widgets.

columns

[object]

Column properties used by the front end for display.

alias

string

A user-assigned alias for the column.

cell_display_mode

enum

Define a display mode for the table cell. Allowed enum values: number,bar

name [required]

string

Column name.

order

enum

Widget sorting methods. Allowed enum values: asc,desc

env [required]

string

Environment name.

name [required]

string

Operation name associated with service.

primary_tag [required]

string

The organization's host group name and value.

resource

string

Resource name.

row_type [required]

enum

The level of detail for the request. Allowed enum values: service,resource,span

service [required]

string

Service name.

event_query

object

The log query.

compute

object

Define computation for a log query.

aggregation [required]

string

The aggregation method.

facet

string

Facet name.

interval

int64

Define a time interval in seconds.

group_by

[object]

List of tag prefixes to group by in the case of a cluster check.

facet [required]

string

Facet name.

limit

int64

Maximum number of items in the group.

sort

object

Define a sorting method.

aggregation [required]

string

The aggregation method.

facet

string

Facet name.

order [required]

enum

Widget sorting methods. Allowed enum values: asc,desc

index

string

A coma separated-list of index names. Use "*" query all indexes at once. Multiple Indexes

multi_compute

[object]

This field is mutually exclusive with compute.

aggregation [required]

string

The aggregation method.

facet

string

Facet name.

interval

int64

Define a time interval in seconds.

search

object

The query being made on the logs.

query [required]

string

Search value to apply.

log_query

object

The log query.

compute

object

Define computation for a log query.

aggregation [required]

string

The aggregation method.

facet

string

Facet name.

interval

int64

Define a time interval in seconds.

group_by

[object]

List of tag prefixes to group by in the case of a cluster check.

facet [required]

string

Facet name.

limit

int64

Maximum number of items in the group.

sort

object

Define a sorting method.

aggregation [required]

string

The aggregation method.

facet

string

Facet name.

order [required]

enum

Widget sorting methods. Allowed enum values: asc,desc

index

string

A coma separated-list of index names. Use "*" query all indexes at once. Multiple Indexes

multi_compute

[object]

This field is mutually exclusive with compute.

aggregation [required]

string

The aggregation method.

facet

string

Facet name.

interval

int64

Define a time interval in seconds.

search

object

The query being made on the logs.

query [required]

string

Search value to apply.

network_query

object

The log query.

compute

object

Define computation for a log query.

aggregation [required]

string

The aggregation method.

facet

string

Facet name.

interval

int64

Define a time interval in seconds.

group_by

[object]

List of tag prefixes to group by in the case of a cluster check.

facet [required]

string

Facet name.

limit

int64

Maximum number of items in the group.

sort

object

Define a sorting method.

aggregation [required]

string

The aggregation method.

facet

string

Facet name.

order [required]

enum

Widget sorting methods. Allowed enum values: asc,desc

index

string

A coma separated-list of index names. Use "*" query all indexes at once. Multiple Indexes

multi_compute

[object]

This field is mutually exclusive with compute.

aggregation [required]

string

The aggregation method.

facet

string

Facet name.

interval

int64

Define a time interval in seconds.

search

object

The query being made on the logs.

query [required]

string

Search value to apply.

process_query

object

The process query to use in the widget.

filter_by

[string]

List of processes.

limit

int64

Max number of items in the filter list.

metric [required]

string

Your chosen metric.

search_by

string

Your chosen search term.

profile_metrics_query

object

The log query.

compute

object

Define computation for a log query.

aggregation [required]

string

The aggregation method.

facet

string

Facet name.

interval

int64

Define a time interval in seconds.

group_by

[object]

List of tag prefixes to group by in the case of a cluster check.

facet [required]

string

Facet name.

limit

int64

Maximum number of items in the group.

sort

object

Define a sorting method.

aggregation [required]

string

The aggregation method.

facet

string

Facet name.

order [required]

enum

Widget sorting methods. Allowed enum values: asc,desc

index

string

A coma separated-list of index names. Use "*" query all indexes at once. Multiple Indexes

multi_compute

[object]

This field is mutually exclusive with compute.

aggregation [required]

string

The aggregation method.

facet

string

Facet name.

interval

int64

Define a time interval in seconds.

search

object

The query being made on the logs.

query [required]

string

Search value to apply.

q

string

Widget query.

rum_query

object

The log query.

compute

object

Define computation for a log query.

aggregation [required]

string

The aggregation method.

facet

string

Facet name.

interval

int64

Define a time interval in seconds.

group_by

[object]

List of tag prefixes to group by in the case of a cluster check.

facet [required]

string

Facet name.

limit

int64

Maximum number of items in the group.

sort

object

Define a sorting method.

aggregation [required]

string

The aggregation method.

facet

string

Facet name.

order [required]

enum

Widget sorting methods. Allowed enum values: asc,desc

index

string

A coma separated-list of index names. Use "*" query all indexes at once. Multiple Indexes

multi_compute

[object]

This field is mutually exclusive with compute.

aggregation [required]

string

The aggregation method.

facet

string

Facet name.

interval

int64

Define a time interval in seconds.

search

object

The query being made on the logs.

query [required]

string

Search value to apply.

security_query

object

The log query.

compute

object

Define computation for a log query.

aggregation [required]

string

The aggregation method.

facet

string

Facet name.

interval

int64

Define a time interval in seconds.

group_by

[object]

List of tag prefixes to group by in the case of a cluster check.

facet [required]

string

Facet name.

limit

int64

Maximum number of items in the group.

sort

object

Define a sorting method.

aggregation [required]

string

The aggregation method.

facet

string

Facet name.

order [required]

enum

Widget sorting methods. Allowed enum values: asc,desc

index

string

A coma separated-list of index names. Use "*" query all indexes at once. Multiple Indexes

multi_compute

[object]

This field is mutually exclusive with compute.

aggregation [required]

string

The aggregation method.

facet

string

Facet name.

interval

int64

Define a time interval in seconds.

search

object

The query being made on the logs.

query [required]

string

Search value to apply.

style

object

Widget style definition.

palette

string

Color palette to apply to the widget.

show_legend

boolean

DEPRECATED: (Deprecated) The widget legend was replaced by a tooltip and sidebar.

time

object

Time setting for the widget.

live_span

enum

The available timeframes depend on the widget you are using. Allowed enum values: 1m,5m,10m,15m,30m,1h,4h,1d,2d,1w,1mo,3mo,6mo,1y,alert

title

string

Title of the widget.

title_align

enum

How to align the text on the widget. Allowed enum values: center,left,right

title_size

string

Size of the title.

type [required]

enum

Type of the distribution widget. Allowed enum values: distribution

xaxis

object

X Axis controls for the distribution widget.

include_zero

boolean

True includes zero.

max

string

Specifies maximum value to show on the x-axis. It takes a number, percentile (p90 === 90th percentile), or auto for default behavior.

min

string

Specifies minimum value to show on the x-axis. It takes a number, percentile (p90 === 90th percentile), or auto for default behavior.

scale

string

Specifies the scale type. Possible values are linear.

yaxis

object

Y Axis controls for the distribution widget.

include_zero

boolean

True includes zero.

label

string

The label of the axis to display on the graph.

max

string

Specifies the maximum value to show on the y-axis. It takes a number, or auto for default behavior.

min

string

Specifies minimum value to show on the y-axis. It takes a number, or auto for default behavior.

scale

string

Specifies the scale type. Possible values are linear or log.

{
  "legend_size": "string",
  "markers": [
    {
      "display_type": "error dashed",
      "label": "Error threshold",
      "time": "string",
      "value": "y = 15"
    }
  ],
  "requests": [
    {
      "apm_query": {
        "compute": {
          "aggregation": "avg",
          "facet": "@duration",
          "interval": 5000
        },
        "group_by": [
          {
            "facet": "resource_name",
            "limit": 50,
            "sort": {
              "aggregation": "avg",
              "facet": "@string_query.interval",
              "order": "desc"
            }
          }
        ],
        "index": "days-3,days-7",
        "multi_compute": [
          {
            "aggregation": "avg",
            "facet": "@duration",
            "interval": 5000
          }
        ],
        "search": {
          "query": ""
        }
      },
      "apm_stats_query": {
        "columns": [
          {
            "alias": "Requests",
            "cell_display_mode": "number",
            "name": "Reqs",
            "order": "desc"
          }
        ],
        "env": "prod",
        "name": "rack.request",
        "primary_tag": "datacenter:*",
        "resource": "CartsController",
        "row_type": "service",
        "service": "web-store"
      },
      "event_query": {
        "compute": {
          "aggregation": "avg",
          "facet": "@duration",
          "interval": 5000
        },
        "group_by": [
          {
            "facet": "resource_name",
            "limit": 50,
            "sort": {
              "aggregation": "avg",
              "facet": "@string_query.interval",
              "order": "desc"
            }
          }
        ],
        "index": "days-3,days-7",
        "multi_compute": [
          {
            "aggregation": "avg",
            "facet": "@duration",
            "interval": 5000
          }
        ],
        "search": {
          "query": ""
        }
      },
      "log_query": {
        "compute": {
          "aggregation": "avg",
          "facet": "@duration",
          "interval": 5000
        },
        "group_by": [
          {
            "facet": "resource_name",
            "limit": 50,
            "sort": {
              "aggregation": "avg",
              "facet": "@string_query.interval",
              "order": "desc"
            }
          }
        ],
        "index": "days-3,days-7",
        "multi_compute": [
          {
            "aggregation": "avg",
            "facet": "@duration",
            "interval": 5000
          }
        ],
        "search": {
          "query": ""
        }
      },
      "network_query": {
        "compute": {
          "aggregation": "avg",
          "facet": "@duration",
          "interval": 5000
        },
        "group_by": [
          {
            "facet": "resource_name",
            "limit": 50,
            "sort": {
              "aggregation": "avg",
              "facet": "@string_query.interval",
              "order": "desc"
            }
          }
        ],
        "index": "days-3,days-7",
        "multi_compute": [
          {
            "aggregation": "avg",
            "facet": "@duration",
            "interval": 5000
          }
        ],
        "search": {
          "query": ""
        }
      },
      "process_query": {
        "filter_by": [],
        "limit": "integer",
        "metric": "system.load.1",
        "search_by": "string"
      },
      "profile_metrics_query": {
        "compute": {
          "aggregation": "avg",
          "facet": "@duration",
          "interval": 5000
        },
        "group_by": [
          {
            "facet": "resource_name",
            "limit": 50,
            "sort": {
              "aggregation": "avg",
              "facet": "@string_query.interval",
              "order": "desc"
            }
          }
        ],
        "index": "days-3,days-7",
        "multi_compute": [
          {
            "aggregation": "avg",
            "facet": "@duration",
            "interval": 5000
          }
        ],
        "search": {
          "query": ""
        }
      },
      "q": "host:X tags:Y",
      "rum_query": {
        "compute": {
          "aggregation": "avg",
          "facet": "@duration",
          "interval": 5000
        },
        "group_by": [
          {
            "facet": "resource_name",
            "limit": 50,
            "sort": {
              "aggregation": "avg",
              "facet": "@string_query.interval",
              "order": "desc"
            }
          }
        ],
        "index": "days-3,days-7",
        "multi_compute": [
          {
            "aggregation": "avg",
            "facet": "@duration",
            "interval": 5000
          }
        ],
        "search": {
          "query": ""
        }
      },
      "security_query": {
        "compute": {
          "aggregation": "avg",
          "facet": "@duration",
          "interval": 5000
        },
        "group_by": [
          {
            "facet": "resource_name",
            "limit": 50,
            "sort": {
              "aggregation": "avg",
              "facet": "@string_query.interval",
              "order": "desc"
            }
          }
        ],
        "index": "days-3,days-7",
        "multi_compute": [
          {
            "aggregation": "avg",
            "facet": "@duration",
            "interval": 5000
          }
        ],
        "search": {
          "query": ""
        }
      },
      "style": {
        "palette": "string"
      }
    }
  ],
  "show_legend": false,
  "time": {
    "live_span": "5m"
  },
  "title": "string",
  "title_align": "string",
  "title_size": "string",
  "type": "distribution",
  "xaxis": {
    "include_zero": false,
    "max": "string",
    "min": "string",
    "scale": "string"
  },
  "yaxis": {
    "include_zero": false,
    "label": "string",
    "max": "string",
    "min": "string",
    "scale": "string"
  }
}

Further Reading

Additional helpful documentation, links, and articles:

TimeboardsDOCUMENTATION more more Building Dashboard using JSONDOCUMENTATION more more