Add index mode overview to data store by lcawl · Pull Request #9230 · elastic/docs-content

lcawl · 2026-11-05T02:44:54Z

Summary

The current data-store overview page is a general introduction to indices, mappings, and templates, but does not explain how index modes fit into the higher-level concepts.

Details

The Elasticsearch data store(manage-data/data-store.md) now has index mode section, placed after the storage overview.

Columnar index mode(manage-data/data-store/columnar.md) and index fundamentals(manage-data/data-store/index-basics.md) now point at that section. Existing LogsDB, TSDS, and "vector index mode" wording elsewhere is unchanged.

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github-actions · 2026-11-05T02:45:36Z

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github-actions · 2026-11-05T02:47:53Z

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github-actions · 2026-11-05T02:47:59Z

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yannis-roussos

Thank you @lcawl, looks great! I have added a few comments and small suggestions

yannis-roussos · 2026-11-05T06:52:04Z

+For every supported value, refer to [`index.mode`](elasticsearch://reference/elasticsearch/index-settings/index-modules.md#index-mode-setting).
+
+Standard (`standard`) {applies_to}`vectordb: unavailable`
+:   Use it for documents you update or delete, and for data that isn't logs, metrics, or vectors.


Standard is what Elasticsearch is known for.. you know.. for search :-)

Also, would be better to say "optimized" instead of "use it"? Your call on this :-)

I also removed the cases it's not good for as they are evident from the other specialized modes bellow

Suggested change

: Use it for documents you update or delete, and for data that isn't logs, metrics, or vectors.

: Optimized for search and any type of retrieval.

yannis-roussos · 2026-11-05T06:53:29Z

+:   Use it for documents you update or delete, and for data that isn't logs, metrics, or vectors.
+
+Columnar (`columnar`) {applies_to}`stack: preview 9.5` {applies_to}`serverless: preview` {applies_to}`vectordb: unavailable`
+:   Use it for analytics-heavy data that isn't logs. Refer to [Columnar index mode](/manage-data/data-store/columnar.md).


Suggested change

: Use it for analytics-heavy data that isn't logs. Refer to [Columnar index mode](/manage-data/data-store/columnar.md).

: Optimized for storage efficiency and analytics. Refer to [Columnar index mode](/manage-data/data-store/columnar.md).

yannis-roussos · 2026-11-05T06:54:43Z

+:   Use it for analytics-heavy data that isn't logs. Refer to [Columnar index mode](/manage-data/data-store/columnar.md).
+
+LogsDB (`logsdb`) {applies_to}`stack: ga 9.0+` {applies_to}`vectordb: unavailable`
+:   Use it to store logs. [Logs data streams](/manage-data/data-store/data-streams/logs-data-stream.md) use this mode.


Suggested change

: Use it to store logs. [Logs data streams](/manage-data/data-store/data-streams/logs-data-stream.md) use this mode.

: Optimized for logs use cases, with log-oriented defaults. [Logs data streams](/manage-data/data-store/data-streams/logs-data-stream.md) use this mode.

yannis-roussos · 2026-11-05T06:55:35Z

+:   Use it to store logs with columnar storage. Refer to [Columnar index mode](/manage-data/data-store/columnar.md).
+
+TSDB (`time_series`) {applies_to}`vectordb: unavailable`
+:   Use it to store metrics. [Time series data streams](/manage-data/data-store/data-streams/time-series-data-stream-tsds.md) use this mode. This mode is for data streams only.


Suggested change

: Use it to store metrics. [Time series data streams](/manage-data/data-store/data-streams/time-series-data-stream-tsds.md) use this mode. This mode is for data streams only.

: Optimized for metrics and time series use cases. [Time series data streams](/manage-data/data-store/data-streams/time-series-data-stream-tsds.md) use this mode. This mode is for data streams only.

yannis-roussos · 2026-11-05T06:56:40Z

+:   Use it to store metrics. [Time series data streams](/manage-data/data-store/data-streams/time-series-data-stream-tsds.md) use this mode. This mode is for data streams only.
+
+VectorDB (`vectordb_document`) {applies_to}`stack: ga 9.5+` {applies_to}`vectordb: ga`
+:   Use it for similarity search on dense vectors. Refer to [Vector index mode](/solutions/search/vector.md#vector-index-mode). In {{vectordb}} projects, it is the only mode available.


Suggested change

: Use it for similarity search on dense vectors. Refer to [Vector index mode](/solutions/search/vector.md#vector-index-mode). In {{vectordb}} projects, it is the only mode available.

: Optimized for vector search use cases, enabling similarity search on dense vectors. Refer to [Vector index mode](/solutions/search/vector.md#vector-index-mode). In {{vectordb}} projects, it is the only mode available.

yannis-roussos · 2026-11-05T07:00:39Z

+:   Use it to store logs. [Logs data streams](/manage-data/data-store/data-streams/logs-data-stream.md) use this mode.
+
+LogsDB columnar (`logsdb_columnar`) {applies_to}`stack: preview 9.5` {applies_to}`serverless: preview` {applies_to}`vectordb: unavailable`
+:   Use it to store logs with columnar storage. Refer to [Columnar index mode](/manage-data/data-store/columnar.md).


I am not good with adding correct link paths: We can also add a link to the limitations section (https://www.elastic.co/docs/reference/elasticsearch/columnar#columnar-limitations)

Suggested change

: Use it to store logs with columnar storage. Refer to [Columnar index mode](/manage-data/data-store/columnar.md).

: Optimized for logs use cases that align with columnar semantics and limitations. Refer to [Columnar index mode](/manage-data/data-store/columnar.md).

yannis-roussos · 2026-11-05T07:09:31Z

+Standard (`standard`) {applies_to}`vectordb: unavailable`
+:   Use it for documents you update or delete, and for data that isn't logs, metrics, or vectors.
+
+Columnar (`columnar`) {applies_to}`stack: preview 9.5` {applies_to}`serverless: preview` {applies_to}`vectordb: unavailable`


I would switch the order slightly and move columnar after TSDB

It feels weird to me to start with columnar as it is not (yet) as important or prominent as other use cases. I would go by order of use for Elasticsearch use cases:

Standard

Logs Use cases (first logsdb then logsdb_columnar)

Metrics / Time series

then Columnar. I don't think that it matters here that we mention first logsdb columnar and then the pure columnar one. We go by use case

VectorDB

Finally and always last: lookup (it's not an equally important index mode, just a wanna-be, an impostor that craves the attention of other modes). Kidding aside, this one does not serve a stand alone use case per se, but acts as a tool, a bridge to enable joining data.

yannis-roussos · 2026-11-05T07:15:58Z

+:   Use it for reference data you join in {{esql}}, for example a list of users, hosts, or known threat IPs. Refer to [Join data from multiple indices with LOOKUP JOIN](elasticsearch://reference/query-languages/esql/esql-lookup-join.md). Only the lookup index needs this mode, not the source index.
+
+Index mode works together with [mappings](/manage-data/data-store/mapping.md) and [templates](/manage-data/data-store/templates.md).
+The mode changes default settings and whether {{es}} stores the original JSON document ([`_source`](/manage-data/data-store/index-basics.md#elasticsearch-intro-documents-fields)) or reconstructs it.


(nit) small repetition here of things already mentioned at the start of the section. Maybe it's ok

Add index mode overview to data store

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lcawl marked this pull request as ready for review November 5, 2026 02:47

lcawl requested review from a team as code owners November 5, 2026 02:47

lcawl requested a review from yannis-roussos November 5, 2026 02:47

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Add index mode overview to data store - #9230

Add index mode overview to data store#9230
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	: Use it for documents you update or delete, and for data that isn't logs, metrics, or vectors.
	: Optimized for search and any type of retrieval.

	: Use it for analytics-heavy data that isn't logs. Refer to [Columnar index mode](/manage-data/data-store/columnar.md).
	: Optimized for storage efficiency and analytics. Refer to [Columnar index mode](/manage-data/data-store/columnar.md).

	: Use it to store logs. [Logs data streams](/manage-data/data-store/data-streams/logs-data-stream.md) use this mode.
	: Optimized for logs use cases, with log-oriented defaults. [Logs data streams](/manage-data/data-store/data-streams/logs-data-stream.md) use this mode.

	: Use it to store metrics. [Time series data streams](/manage-data/data-store/data-streams/time-series-data-stream-tsds.md) use this mode. This mode is for data streams only.
	: Optimized for metrics and time series use cases. [Time series data streams](/manage-data/data-store/data-streams/time-series-data-stream-tsds.md) use this mode. This mode is for data streams only.

	: Use it for similarity search on dense vectors. Refer to [Vector index mode](/solutions/search/vector.md#vector-index-mode). In {{vectordb}} projects, it is the only mode available.
	: Optimized for vector search use cases, enabling similarity search on dense vectors. Refer to [Vector index mode](/solutions/search/vector.md#vector-index-mode). In {{vectordb}} projects, it is the only mode available.

	: Use it to store logs with columnar storage. Refer to [Columnar index mode](/manage-data/data-store/columnar.md).
	: Optimized for logs use cases that align with columnar semantics and limitations. Refer to [Columnar index mode](/manage-data/data-store/columnar.md).

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