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14 changes: 8 additions & 6 deletions docs/product/explore/trace-explorer/index.mdx
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -12,10 +12,10 @@ The [**Trace Explorer**](https://sentry.io/orgredirect/organizations/:orgslug/tr

### Traces

- A trace represents a single transaction or request through your system. This includes things like user browser sessions, HTTP requests, DB queries, middleware, caches and more.
- It captures a series of operations (_spans_) that show how different parts of your application interacted during that transaction.
- A trace represents a series of transactions or requests through a single system. This includes things like user browser sessions, HTTP requests, DB queries, middleware, caches and more.
- It captures a series of operations (_spans_) that show how different parts of your application interacted during each transaction.
- Each trace is identified by a **Trace ID**, which you can use to follow a request across services or projects.
- A [distributed trace](/platforms/javascript/tracing/trace-propagation/#what-is-distributed-tracing) is made of spans that traverse multiple servers, clients, edge workers, etc. and is assembled by passing the Trace ID through browser headers.
- A [distributed trace](/platforms/javascript/tracing/trace-propagation/#what-is-distributed-tracing) is made of transactions and spans that traverse multiple servers, clients, edge workers, and other parts of your system. It is assembled by passing the Trace ID through browser headers.

### Spans

Expand All @@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ The [**Trace Explorer**](https://sentry.io/orgredirect/organizations/:orgslug/tr

### Span Metrics

- [Span metrics](/concepts/key-terms/tracing/span-metrics/) are derived from applying a function to your span attributes (default or custom), like `p50(cart.value)` or `sum(ai.token_use)`, over a granular time frame. This calculation extrapolates metrics that then populate dashboards, alerts, etc. based on that rolling time window.
- [Span metrics](/concepts/key-terms/tracing/span-metrics/) are derived from applying a function to your span attributes (default or custom), like `p50(cart.value)` or `sum(ai.token_use)`, over a granular time frame. This calculation extrapolates metrics that then populate dashboards and alerts. based on that rolling time window.
- These 'metrics' aren't stored separately from your span data. Rather, they're queried on the fly. This reduces your need to manage, ingest, and store custom metrics.

## Practical Examples
Expand All @@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ With these tools, the new Trace Explorer gives you powerful ways to understand y
Trace Explorer allows you to browse span and trace samples and inspect them. Here's how:

1. **Search for Samples**:
- Use the search bar to filter results based on default or custom attributes, tags, etc. like `http.request_method is "GET`
- Use the search bar to filter results based on default or custom attributes, tags, and strings like `http.request_method is "GET`
- **Edit and add** columns in the span samples table to view any attribute
- **Sort** by clicking the column header to toggle between ascending and descending
- Switch between **Span Samples** and **Trace Samples** tabs depending on your focus.
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -90,12 +90,14 @@ Dive deeper into your data with aggregation capabilities in Trace Explorer.

<Arcade src="https://demo.arcade.software/rgVB85wJiopGNPO3KFJS?embed" />

## Create Alerts and Dashboard Widgets From Queries
## Create Alerts and Dashboard Widgets From Queries or Compare Queries

You can create Alerts and Dashboard widgets from your queries by clicking the "Save As" button:

![Trace Explorer Screenshot](./img/trace_explorer_save.png)

You can also run side-by-side comparisons of different queries to analyze changes or differences in span data.

## Practical Examples

- **Diagnosing slow pages**:
Expand Down