What should be included in logging for clarity?

Including sufficient context to explain the application state in logging is essential for clarity because it helps developers and operators understand what the system was doing at the time of an event, especially when diagnosing issues or analyzing behaviors. Clear logs provide insights into the flow of the application, including variable states, user actions, and system responses, allowing for better troubleshooting and performance monitoring.

When the application state is clearly outlined in the logs, it becomes easier to trace the sequence of events that led up to an error or unexpected behavior, facilitating a quicker and more accurate resolution of problems. This level of detail can also help in understanding patterns over time, informing future development and optimization efforts.

In contrast, simply logging error messages may not provide enough information to diagnose issues effectively, while a brief summary of events could miss critical context that clarifies why things occurred as they did. Although avoiding sensitive information is crucial for security and privacy reasons, it does not directly contribute to the clarity of logs regarding application state; hence, it's important to balance sensitivity with the need for detailed context.