Question 1

zap vs zerolog which is better for Go logging?

Accepted Answer

Zap offers a dual API with both high-performance Logger and convenient SugaredLogger, while zerolog is often faster in benchmarks with lower allocations. Choose Zap for flexibility and structured logging with type safety, or zerolog for pure speed in allocation-critical paths. The decision hinges on your need for API design versus raw performance.

Question 2

How to use zap for structured logging in Go?

Accepted Answer

Use zap's Logger with strongly typed Field values like zap.String and zap.Int for structured context. For example, logger.Info('failed to fetch URL', zap.String('url', url), zap.Int('attempt', 3)). This ensures type safety and minimal allocations, as demonstrated in the Quick Start.

Question 3

What is the difference between zap Logger and SugaredLogger?

Accepted Answer

The Logger is high-performance and type-safe, supporting only structured logging with minimal allocations. The SugaredLogger is more convenient, offering both structured and printf-style APIs but with higher overhead. Use Logger for critical paths and SugaredLogger for general logging, as outlined in the README.

Question 4

How to configure zap for production environments?

Accepted Answer

Use zap.NewProduction() to create a logger configured for production with JSON encoding and sensible defaults. Remember to call defer logger.Sync() to flush buffers. Customize further with zap.Config or integrate with external libraries for output management.

Question 5

Does zap support log levels like debug and error?

Accepted Answer

Yes, zap provides standard log levels such as Debug, Info, Warn, Error, and Panic. You can set the logging level to control output granularity, making it suitable for various environments from development to production, as mentioned in the Key Features.

Question 6

Is zap compatible with Go's standard library slog?

Accepted Answer

Zap and slog are both structured logging libraries for Go. Slog is part of the standard library as of Go 1.21, offering simplicity and compatibility. Zap is faster and more feature-rich but requires an external dependency. For new projects, consider slog for standardization, or zap for maximum performance.

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