Head-based Sampling

Head-based Sampling A workflow diagram generated by Archify. 01 / Request start · decide immediately 02 / Sampled · 10% EX / Skipped · 90% Request received · first Span created · Request start · decide immediately Request received first Span created Sampling decision · traceidratio 0.1 · Request start · decide immediately · decision point Sampling decision traceidratio 0.1 decision point Trace collected · every Span recorded · Sampled · 10% Trace collected every Span recorded Trace skipped · error/latency unknown · Skipped · 90% Trace skipped error/latency unknown 10% sampled 90% skipped Legend Request entry Sampling decision Trace collected Skipped

Advantages

  • • Simple implementation
  • • Low overhead
  • • Consistent sampling decisions

Disadvantages

  • • May miss important requests
  • • May skip requests with errors or latency