What is a potential risk of excessive logging?

Excessive logging can lead to the creation of large log files, which can significantly impact system performance. When applications generate more logs than necessary, it not only consumes additional disk space but also requires more I/O operations to write and manage those logs. This can lead to slower application response times and degraded overall performance, especially if the system becomes overwhelmed by the volume of data being logged. Managing and processing large log files can also introduce complications in monitoring and analyzing system behavior, making it harder to isolate issues and maintain system efficiency.

By keeping logging at a reasonable level, software engineers can ensure that they capture essential information needed for debugging and monitoring while avoiding the pitfalls associated with excessive data accumulation. This fosters a healthier balance in system resource management and promotes better application performance overall.