History vs. Log: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 29, 2023
History refers to the study and record of past events, while a log is a detailed record of occurrences, transactions, or observations made over a period of time.
Key Differences
History is a broad term encompassing the study, analysis, and record of past events, often related to human societies. Log, in contrast, is a systematic record of events, activities, or observations, usually kept contemporaneously.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
The focus of history is to understand and interpret past events, often in a broader context like cultural, political, or social movements. Log is more about maintaining a chronological account, often for specific purposes like tracking progress or activities.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
History often involves a narrative, providing interpretations or perspectives on past events. Logs are typically factual and devoid of interpretation, primarily consisting of date, time, and specific details of occurrences.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Researchers and scholars extensively use history to gain insights into human behavior and societal changes over time. Logs are more utilitarian, used in various fields such as science, shipping, or technology to record sequential data.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
History can be subjective, influenced by the historian's perspective. In contrast, a log is meant to be an objective, accurate record of events as they happen, without personal bias or interpretation.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Definition
Study and record of past events.
Detailed record of occurrences, transactions, or observations.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Purpose
Understanding and interpreting past events.
Keeping a chronological account for specific purposes.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Usage
Used for insights into human behavior and societal changes.
Used for tracking progress or activities in various fields.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Subjectivity
Can be subjective, influenced by perspectives.
Intended to be objective and accurate.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
History and Log Definitions
History
The study of past events and times.
The history of ancient Rome fascinates many scholars.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Log
A record of events or a day-to-day account.
The captain kept a detailed log of the ship's journey.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
History
A record or narrative of past events.
The book offered a detailed history of the Victorian era.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Log
A systematic record of observations or activities.
The scientist maintained a log of all experiments conducted.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
History
The branch of knowledge dealing with past occurrences.
She pursued a degree in history to become a historian.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Log
A chronological record of actions or events.
The flight log provided crucial information for the investigation.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
History
An account of what has happened in the life of a people or country.
The museum displayed the history of the indigenous tribes of the region.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Log
An official record of the progress of a vehicle.
The truck driver submitted the travel log at the end of the route.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
History
A chronological record of events, as of the life or development of a people or institution, often including an explanation of or commentary on those events
A history of the Vikings.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
History
A formal written account of related natural phenomena
A history of volcanoes.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
History
A record of a patient's general medical background
Took the patient's history.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
History
An established condition or pattern of behavior
An inmate with a history of mental illness and drug abuse.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Log
A record of a ship's speed, its progress, and any shipboard events of navigational importance.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
History
The branch of knowledge that records and analyzes past events
"History has a long-range perspective" (Elizabeth Gurley Flynn).
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
History
The past events relating to a particular thing
The history of their rivalry is full of intrigue.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Log
A record of a vehicle's performance, as the flight record of an aircraft.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
History
The aggregate of past events or human affairs
Basic tools used throughout history.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Log
A record, as of the performance of a machine or the progress of an undertaking
A computer log.
A trip log.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
History
(Slang) One that is no longer worth consideration
Why should we worry about him? He's history!.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
History
The aggregate of past events.
History repeats itself if we don’t learn from its mistakes.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Log
To travel (a specified distance, time, or speed)
Logged 30,000 air miles in April.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
History
The branch of knowledge that studies the past; the assessment of notable events.
He teaches history at the university.
History will not look kindly on these tyrants.
He dreams of an invention that will make history.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
History
The portion of the past that is known and recorded by this field of study, as opposed to all earlier and unknown times that preceded it (prehistory).
In all of human history and prehistory
In all recorded history
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
History
(countable) A set of events involving an entity.
What is your medical history?
The family's history includes events best forgotten.
A long and sordid history
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Log
The trunk of a dead tree, cleared of branches.
They walked across the stream on a fallen log.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
History
(countable) A record or narrative description of past events.
I really enjoyed Shakespeare's tragedies more than his histories.
A short history of post-Columbian colonization
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
History
A list of past and continuing medical conditions of an individual or family.
A personal medical history is required for the insurance policy.
He has a history of cancer in his family.
This diagnosis is usually based solely on the history and physical examination, although laboratory tests are occasionally also obtained.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
History
A record of previous user events, especially of visited web pages in a browser.
I visited a great site yesterday but forgot the URL. Luckily, I didn't clear my history.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Log
(nautical) A floating device, usually of wood, used in navigation to estimate the speed of a vessel through water.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
History
(informal) Something that no longer exists or is no longer relevant.
I told him that if he doesn't get his act together, he's history.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
History
(uncountable) Shared experience or interaction.
There is too much history between them for them to split up now.
He has had a lot of history with the police.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
History
A learning or knowing by inquiry; the knowledge of facts and events, so obtained; hence, a formal statement of such information; a narrative; a description; a written record; as, the history of a patient's case; the history of a legislative bill.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Log
(mining) A weight or block near the free end of a hoisting rope to prevent it from being drawn through the sheave.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
History
A systematic, written account of events, particularly of those affecting a nation, institution, science, or art, and usually connected with a philosophical explanation of their causes; a true story, as distinguished from a romance; - distinguished also from annals, which relate simply the facts and events of each year, in strict chronological order; from biography, which is the record of an individual's life; and from memoir, which is history composed from personal experience, observation, and memory.
Histories are as perfect as the historian is wise, and is gifted with an eye and a soul.
For aught that I could ever read,Could ever hear by tale or history.
What histories of toil could I declare!
Justly Cæsar scorns the poet's lays;It is to history he trusts for praise.
No more yet of this;For 't is a chronicle of day by day,Not a relation for a breakfast.
Many glorious examples in the annals of our religion.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
History
The aggregate of past events;
A critical time in the school's history
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
History
The continuum of events occurring in succession leading from the past to the present and even into the future;
All of human history
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Log
A chronological record of actions, performances, computer/network usage, etc.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
History
A record or narrative description of past events;
A history of France
He gave an inaccurate account of the plot to kill the president
The story of exposure to lead
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Log
(computer science) Specifically, an append-only sequence of records written to file.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
History
The discipline that records and interprets past events involving human beings;
He teaches Medieval history
History takes the long view
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
History
All that is remembered of the past as preserved in writing; a body of knowledge;
The dawn of recorded history
From the beginning of history
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Log
Synonym of logarithm. Category:en:Functions
To multiply two numbers, add their logs.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
History
The collective events that have occurred in the past.
The history of aviation shows remarkable progress over time.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Log
(sciences) A difference of one in the logarithm, usually in base 10; an order of magnitude.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Log
(intransitive) To cut down trees in an area, harvesting and transporting the logs as wood.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Log
(transitive) To make, to add an entry (or more) in a log or logbook.
To log the miles travelled by a ship
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Log
(transitive) To travel at a specified speed, as ascertained by a chip log.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Log
An apparatus for measuring the rate of a ship's motion through the water.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Log
The record of the rate of speed of a ship or airplane, and of the course of its progress for the duration of a voyage; also, the full nautical record of a ship's cruise or voyage; a log slate; a log book.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Log
A record and tabulated statement of the person(s) operating, operations performed, resources consumed, and the work done by any machine, device, or system.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Log
A weight or block near the free end of a hoisting rope to prevent it from being drawn through the sheave.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Log
A record of activities performed within a program, or changes in a database or file on a computer, and typically kept as a file in the computer.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Log
To record any event in a logbook, especially an event relating to the operation of a machine or device.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Log
To engage in the business of cutting or transporting logs for timber; to get out logs.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Log
A written record of messages sent or received;
They kept a log of all transmission by the radio station
An email log
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Log
Measuring instrument that consists of a float that trails from a ship by a knotted line in order to measure the ship's speed through the water
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Log
A written account of occurrences over a period of time.
The project manager updated the construction log daily.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
What is a ship's log?
A ship's log is a detailed record of a ship's course, speed, and significant events during its voyage.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Are logs used in computers?
Yes, logs in computers track system operations, errors, and other events.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Can history be subjective?
Yes, history can be influenced by the historian's perspective and interpretation.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Is history always about ancient times?
No, history covers all past events, even those in recent times.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Does history always involve written records?
Mostly, but history can also be passed down orally or through artifacts.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Is a log similar to a journal?
A log is similar to a journal but tends to be more systematic and factual.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Can a log be used for legal purposes?
Yes, logs can serve as legal evidence due to their factual nature.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Do historians create history?
Historians study, interpret, and write about history, but they don't create the events.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Why are logs important in business?
Logs help track progress, transactions, and operational details in business.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Are all logs written by hand?
No, logs can be digital or handwritten, depending on the context.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Can anyone keep a log?
Yes, anyone can maintain a log for personal or professional purposes.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Are historical events always accurate?
Historical accounts can vary and may not always be entirely accurate.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Is history a science or an art?
History is considered a social science, but it also has elements of art in storytelling.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
What's the difference between a log and a diary?
A log is more systematic and factual, while a diary is personal and may include emotions and opinions.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Do logs have to be detailed?
Logs are generally detailed to provide accurate accounts of events or activities.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
What's a flight log?
A flight log records details of aircraft flights, like duration, distance, and maintenance.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
How is history taught?
History is taught through narratives, analysis of sources, and discussions.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Can history change over time?
Interpretations of history can change, but the actual events do not.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
What is the importance of history?
History helps us understand the past, learn from it, and shape the future.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
How do historians research?
Historians research by analyzing primary and secondary sources, and archival materials.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Share this page
Link for your blog / website
HTML
Link to share via messenger
About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
Shumaila Saeed
Hifza Nasir
Dua Fatima
