What constitutes a metric in OpenTelemetry?

In OpenTelemetry, a metric is defined as a record of a data point that includes both a measurement and a timestamp. This encapsulation allows metrics to provide meaningful insights into the performance, behavior, or state of a system over time. Metrics are typically used to track quantitative data, such as request counts, error rates, and performance timings, which can be monitored and analyzed to understand system dynamics and facilitate performance tuning.

The essence of metrics lies in their ability to convey numerical information that is timestamped, enabling the observation of trends and changes in system behavior over time. This is crucial for observability, as it allows organizations to proactively monitor their systems, identify anomalies, and react to issues as they arise.