How do OpenTelemetry spans function within Dynatrace?

OpenTelemetry spans play a significant role in enriching the monitoring capabilities provided by Dynatrace. Specifically, they map into Dynatrace traces, which allows the integration of telemetry data collected from various sources into a coherent representation of the application's performance and behavior.

This integration is crucial because it enhances the context and granularity of the traces within Dynatrace. Instead of treating OpenTelemetry data in isolation, they combine with the existing Dynatrace tracing framework, providing a unified view of the distributed system's performance. This allows users to gain deeper insights into the flow of transactions through various services and components, thereby facilitating better troubleshooting, performance analysis, and optimization.

The coupling of OpenTelemetry spans with Dynatrace traces showcases Dynatrace’s flexibility in using standardized data formats to optimize monitoring processes, thereby ensuring that organizations can benefit from precise performance metrics and deep observability across their entire tech stack. This capability is essential for understanding how applications operate in distributed environments and for effectively diagnosing any issues that may arise.