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You use Kibana to -search, view, and interact with data stored in Elasticsearch indices. You can easily perform advanced data analysis -and visualize your data in a variety of charts, tables, and maps. +**_Explore and visualize your data and manage all things Elastic Stack._** -Kibana makes it easy to understand large volumes of data. Its simple, browser-based interface enables you to quickly -create and share dynamic dashboards that display changes to Elasticsearch queries in real time. +Whether you’re a user or admin, {kib} makes your data actionable by providing +three key functions. Kibana is: -Setting up Kibana is a snap. You can install Kibana and start exploring your Elasticsearch indices in minutes -- no -code, no additional infrastructure required. +* **An open-source analytics and visualization platform.** +Use {kib} to explore your {es} data, and then build beautiful visualizations and dashboards. + +* **A UI for managing the Elastic Stack.** +Manage your security settings, assign user roles, take snapshots, roll up your data, +and more — all from the convenience of a {kib} UI. + +* **A centralized hub for Elastic's solutions.** From log analytics to +document discovery to SIEM, {kib} is the portal for accessing these and other capabilities. + +[role="screenshot"] +image::images/intro-kibana.png[] + +[float] +[[get-data-into-kibana]] +=== Getting data into {kib} + +{kib} is designed to use {es} as a data source. Think of Elasticsearch as the engine that stores +and processes the data, with {kib} sitting on top. + +From the home page, {kib} provides these options for getting data in: + +* Set up a data flow to Elasticsearch using our built-in tutorials. +(If a tutorial doesn’t exist for your data, go to the +{beats-ref}/beats-reference.html[Beats overview] to learn about other data shippers +in the {beats} family.) +* <> and take {kib} for a test drive without loading data yourself. +* Import static data using the +https://www.elastic.co/blog/importing-csv-and-log-data-into-elasticsearch-with-file-data-visualizer[file upload feature]. +* Index your data into Elasticsearch with {ref}/getting-started-index.html[REST APIs] + or https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/client/index.html[client libraries]. ++ +[role="screenshot"] +image::images/intro-data-tutorial.png[Ways to get data in from the home page] + + +{kib} uses an +<> to tell it which {es} indices to explore. +If you add sample data or run a built-in tutorial, you get an index pattern for free, +and are good to start exploring. If you load your own data, you can create +an index pattern in <>. + +[float] +[[explore-and-query]] +=== Explore & query + +Ready to dive into your data? With <>, you can explore your data and +search for hidden insights and relationships. Ask your questions, and then +narrow the results to just the data you want. + +[role="screenshot"] +image::images/intro-discover.png[] + +[float] +[[visualize-and-analyze]] +=== Visualize & analyze + +A visualization is worth a thousand log lines, and {kib} provides +many options for showcasing your data. Use <>, +our drag-and-drop interface, +to rapidly build +charts, tables, metrics, and more. If there +is a better visualization for your data, *Lens* suggests it, allowing for quick +switching between visualization types. + +Once your visualizations are just the way you want, +use <> to collect them in one place. A dashboard provides +insights into your data from multiple perspectives. + +[role="screenshot"] +image::images/intro-dashboard.png[] + +{kib} also offers these visualization features: + +* <> allows you to display your data in +line charts, bar graphs, pie charts, histograms, and tables +(just to name a few). It's also home to *Lens*, mentioned above. +*Visualize* supports the ability to add interactive +controls to your dashboard, and filter dashboard content in real time. + +* <> gives you the ability to present your data in a +visually compelling, pixel-perfect report. Give your data the “wow” factor +needed to impress your CEO or to captivate people with a big-screen display. + +* <> enables you to ask (and answer) meaningful +questions of your location-based data. *Elastic Maps* supports multiple +layers and data sources, mapping of individual geo points and shapes, +and dynamic client-side styling. + +* <> allows you to combine +an infinite number of aggregations to display complex data in a meaningful way. +With TSVB, you can analyze multiple index patterns and customize +every aspect of your visualization. Choose your own date format and color +gradients, and easily switch your data view between time series, metric, +top N, gauge, and markdown. + +[float] +[[organize-and-secure]] +=== Organize & secure + +Want to share Kibana’s goodness with other people or teams? You can do so with +<>, built for organizing your visualizations, dashboards, and indices. +Think of a space as its own mini {kib} installation — it’s isolated from +all other spaces, so you can tailor it to your specific needs without impacting others. + +You can even choose which features to enable within each space. Don’t need +Machine learning in your “Executive” space? Simply turn it off. + +[role="screenshot"] +image::images/intro-spaces.jpg[] + +You can take this all one step further with Kibana’s security features, and +control which users have access to each space. {kib} allows for fine-grained +controls, so you can give a user read-only access to +dashboards in one space, but full access to all of Kibana’s features in another. + +[float] +[[manage-all-things-stack]] +=== Manage all things Elastic Stack + +<> provides guided processes for managing all +things Elastic Stack — indices, clusters, licenses, UI settings, index patterns, +and more. Want to update your {es} indices? Set user roles and privileges? +Turn on dark mode? Kibana has UIs for all that. + +[role="screenshot"] +image::images/intro-management.png[] + +[float] +[[extend-your-use-case]] +=== Extend your use case — or add a new one + +As a hub for Elastic's https://www.elastic.co/products/[solutions], {kib} +can help you find security vulnerabilities, +monitor performance, and address your business needs. Get alerted if a key +metric spikes. Detect anomalous behavior or forecast future spikes. Root out +bottlenecks in your application code. Kibana doesn’t limit or dictate how you explore your data. + +[float] +[[try-kibana]] +=== Give {kib} a try + +There is no faster way to try out {kib} than with our hosted {es} Service. +https://www.elastic.co/cloud/elasticsearch-service/signup[Sign up for a free trial] +and start exploring data in minutes. + +You can also <> — no code, no additional +infrastructure required. + +Our <> and in-product guidance can +help you get up and running, faster. Use our Help menu if you have questions or feedback.