otel-semantic-conventions

OpenTelemetry Semantic Conventions

Use this skill when you need released semantic convention guidance for naming, attributes, or compliance checks.

Workflow

1. Start with released semantic conventions, not model memory.

• do not load the full semantic convention spec into context
• use the bundled lookup script to query only the needed released group or attribute

2. Choose the closest released group before inventing custom keys.

• identify the boundary type such as http, db, messaging, rpc, network, gen-ai, or mcp
• pick one primary group first, then add related groups only when they add needed context
• see references/semconv-selection.md

3. Query only the released guidance you need.

• list groups: ./scripts/query-otel-semantic-conventions.sh --groups
• inspect one group: ./scripts/query-otel-semantic-conventions.sh http
• inspect one kind: ./scripts/query-otel-semantic-conventions.sh http spans
• inspect one exact attribute or entry: ./scripts/query-otel-semantic-conventions.sh http http.request.method
• see references/otel-semantic-conventions.md

4. Apply the released naming and attribute rules directly.

• use required and recommended attributes before optional ones
• derive semconv-governed span names directly from the released naming rule
• do not prepend or append protocol labels, hostnames, product names, business hints, or other custom prose to semconv-governed span names
• if the released naming rule does not provide a low-cardinality target, use the simpler fallback allowed by that convention
• if no released key exists, use a stable custom namespace and keep values bounded

5. Return the result with exact source context.

• include the group name, released version, and source URL from the script output
• call out any concrete compatibility limitation if the implementation cannot fully match the released guidance