# A question from newbie about an index structure

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/a-question-from-newbie-about-an-index-structure/256993>\
**Category:** Elasticsearch\
**Created:** [November 29, 2020, 4:26pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/a-question-from-newbie-about-an-index-structure/256993 "2020-11-29T16:26:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![awer1967](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/awer1967/32/60187_2.png) [@awer1967](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/awer1967)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2020, 4:26pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/a-question-from-newbie-about-an-index-structure/256993/1 "2020-11-29T16:26:35Z")

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Hi there !

I am completely new in Elasticsearch so I want to query about the things unclear to me.

My first question is about amount of indices.  
Basically I am going to get a lot of a different data from different sources thru REST queries and put them into our brand new Elasticsearch instance. So should I divide the data among the many indices (every one for a particular source) or put it together in a big one ? My goal is to get my saved data obtainable as quick as it possible. Actually the two approaches have pluses as well as pitfalls so I have to put initial structure for my base in a right way. Wouldn't you be so kind to explain me which way is preferable in my case ?

Another question is about an index structure. In both cases our team wants to have indices formed on a common way with similar sets of fields. I am asserting that all outside metrics we have gotten , should be put in one common array ,like that -

```auto
**Input -**"metric1":"Green"
"metric2": 7
**after filter**
metrics [{"name":"metric1","Value":"green"},{"name":"metric2","Value":7}]

```

In other way my colleagues intend to form metrics with adding prefix "field\_" to the each of the ones , to make them a little bit common, something like -

```auto
    **Input -**
    "metric1":"Green"
    "metric2": 7
    **after filter**
    "field_metric1" : "Green"
    "field_metric2":7 

```

Which way would be the best to get the data conveniently from indices into analysers like Grafana or so ?

Thanks in advance  
Andrii

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![warkolm](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/warkolm/32/39224_2.png) [@warkolm](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/warkolm)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 1:02am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/a-question-from-newbie-about-an-index-structure/256993/2 "2020-12-02T01:02:58Z")

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> [@awer1967](#):
>
> So should I divide the data among the many indices (every one for a particular source) or put it together in a big one ?

Depends. I would group similar structured data if they are also relevant (eg a similar source).

> [@awer1967](#):
>
> My goal is to get my saved data obtainable as quick as it possible.

Elasticsearch will cope, you don't need to worry too much about that 😉

> [@awer1967](#):
>
> Another question is about an index structure

Commonly you'd do something like;

```auto
{
   "green": 7,
   "red": 5,
}

```

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\
**Post date:** [December 30, 2020, 1:03am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/a-question-from-newbie-about-an-index-structure/256993/3 "2020-12-30T01:03:13Z")

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