# What's the difference between dot indices and non-dot indices

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/whats-the-difference-between-dot-indices-and-non-dot-indices/137819>\
**Category:** Elasticsearch\
**Created:** [June 28, 2018, 3:46pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/whats-the-difference-between-dot-indices-and-non-dot-indices/137819 "2018-06-28T15:46:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![\_princesscode](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/_princesscode/32/29151_2.png) [@\_princesscode](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/_princesscode)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2018, 3:46pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/whats-the-difference-between-dot-indices-and-non-dot-indices/137819/1 "2018-06-28T15:46:13Z")

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This is probably a dumb question, but what's the difference between the .indices and the normal indices. I'm assuming that .indices are used for more core indices for holding configuration/settings (ex: .kibana).

Is there any benefit between using .indices over regular name indices? I was trying to find something that explained in detail both, but I wasn't able to run a successful search that populated anything that got me any closer.

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**Author:** ![dadoonet](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/dadoonet/32/137187_2.png) [@dadoonet](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/dadoonet)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2018, 4:02pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/whats-the-difference-between-dot-indices-and-non-dot-indices/137819/2 "2018-06-28T16:02:28Z")

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Using dot prefix was more a conventional decision.  
In the past we have been using index name as folder names.  
Using a dot prefix was hiding those indices on the FS.

So by convention, dot prefix means system index.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![\_princesscode](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/_princesscode/32/29151_2.png) [@\_princesscode](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/_princesscode)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2018, 5:37pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/whats-the-difference-between-dot-indices-and-non-dot-indices/137819/3 "2018-06-28T17:37:37Z")

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Thanks for the clarification 🙂

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 5:37pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/whats-the-difference-between-dot-indices-and-non-dot-indices/137819/4 "2018-07-26T17:37:44Z")

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Closed on July 26, 2018, 5:37pm UTC

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