# Log objects

Log objects are useful for recording information for later reference. They have no side-effects. Carefully chosen log objects can massively simplify post-hoc debugging, especially (as we've found) when investigating merchant bug reports.

A log object is a plain JSON object, having the following structure:

```json
{
  "log": LOG_DETAILS
}
```

The log details can be any JSON value.

Log objects are most easily generated using the [**log tag**](https://learn.mechanic.dev/platform/liquid/tags/log).

Log objects appear wherever task run results are visible, including the task preview and when viewing an event.

<figure><img src="https://3145272362-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MQrnkixbmVHvKHMwAbm%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-194e0c0ca1b9135aaceb65c6e2766d606324d166%2FScreenshot%202023-04-25%20at%203.16.30%20PM.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption><p>A log object visible in a task preview</p></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="https://3145272362-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MQrnkixbmVHvKHMwAbm%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-173b42fb779ea2a7ccc350aa7e2b5f8d03cb150a%2FScreenshot%202023-04-25%20at%203.16.58%20PM.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption><p>A log object visible in a task run's result</p></figcaption></figure>