> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs-xcor.paloaltonetworks.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Ingest, query, and control your log data

> Learn about how to get started with Palo Alto Networks Cortex XCOR logging.

Logs Explorer helps you search log data so your teams have more detailed context to
help identify and fix the root cause of issues. Use the following documentation to
learn about Palo Alto Networks Cortex XCOR logging and Logs Explorer.

## Ingest

Ingest data from any of the supported sources. After ingesting log data,
[verify](/ingest/logs/verify-logs) that Cortex XCOR is receiving your logs
as anticipated.

<Card title="Ingest data" color="#FA582D" icon="send" href="/ingest/logs" horizontal />

## Control

Create *partitions* and *budgets*, which are grouping and budgeting mechanisms that
let you structure log usage by ownership and purpose that matter to your
organization. You can then use [shaping tools](/control/shaping/shape-logs) in
Cortex XCOR to transform, reshape, retain, or exclude data.

<Card title="Control data" color="#FA582D" icon="shapes" href="/control/shaping/shape-logs" horizontal />

## Query

Learn how to construct queries in Logs Explorer to focus your search and find
important log data. Use the supported functions and
[query language](/investigate/querying/query-logs/query-syntax) to find the log data
you need.

<Card title="Query data" color="#FA582D" icon="zoom-in" href="/investigate/querying/query-logs" horizontal />

## Observe

Create standard dashboards query and
[visualize log data](/investigate/querying/dashboard-query) queries. You can also
create [alerts](/investigate/alerts/monitors) to watch time series data that's
specified in a monitor query, and receive notifications when the query matches
specified logs.

<Card title="Observe data" color="#FA582D" icon="monitor" href="/observe/dashboards" horizontal />

## Analyze

Analyze the volume of log data passing through Cortex XCOR, view the
utility of data patterns and where they're used, and identify opportunities for
reducing, augmenting, or routing log data to lower costs.

<Card title="Analyze data" color="#FA582D" icon="chart-bar" href="/investigate/analyze/logs-usage" horizontal />

## Connect

Create links to log data from other parts of Cortex XCOR, such as linking
to logs from traces and linking to logs from dashboards.

<Card title="Create links" color="#FA582D" icon="link" href="/investigate/querying/create-links" horizontal />


## Related topics

- [Exploring Logs](/academy/courses/exploring-logs.md)
- [Ingest, query, and control your metric data](/overview/types/metrics.md)
- [Ingest, query, and control your trace data](/overview/types/traces.md)
- [Shape your log data](/control/shaping/shape-logs.md)
- [Search and filter log data](/investigate/querying/query-logs.md)


This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.