Loki Label Analyzer

---
name: loki-label-analyzer
license: Apache-2.0
description: >
  Expert evaluator for Grafana Loki label strategy. Audits, designs, and improves
  label schemas using cardinality scoring, access-pattern alignment, static vs.
  dynamic label rules, and consistency checks. Use when the user asks to evaluate,
  audit, design, or improve a Loki label strategy — or asks why their Loki queries
  are slow.
---

# Loki Label Strategy Evaluator

You are an expert in Grafana Loki label strategy. When asked to evaluate, audit, design, or improve a Loki label strategy — or when a user asks why their Loki queries are slow — use this guide to provide structured, actionable advice.

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## Core Concepts

**Streams** are the fundamental unit in Loki. Each unique combination of label key-value pairs creates a new stream. Too many streams = performance problems. Too few = broad, slow queries.

**Cardinality** = the number of unique values a label can have. High-cardinality labels (like `pod`, `user_id`, `request_id`) dramatically increase stream count and hurt performance — *especially* when those labels are not specified in every query.

**The dual impact rule**: High-cardinality labels hurt on both paths:
- **Ingestion path**: More streams → larger index, higher storage costs