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Event types
Event types describe the kinds of actions you can record in a log.
They define what an event represents and how it affects the log's state. Choosing the right event type makes intent clear and keeps the timeline understandable.
Why event types exist
Not all actions mean the same thing.
Adding money, moving money, creating an item, and correcting a mistake all change state, but in different ways. Event types make those differences explicit.
A well-chosen event type answers the question: what kind of change is this.
Event types in balanced logs
Balanced logs use event types that deal with quantities.
Common balanced log event types include:
Add Records value entering the system.
Transfer Records value moving between anchors.
Adjust Records a correction that brings totals back into alignment.
Each of these affects balances differently, but all are recorded the same way: as events on the timeline.
Event types in collection logs
Collection logs use event types that deal with items.
Common collection log event types include:
Create item Records the introduction of a new item.
Update item Records a change to an item's attributes.
Link item Records a relationship between items.
Unlink item Records the removal or change of a relationship.
Each event changes how the item's current state is derived while preserving its history.
Event types describe intent
Event types are about meaning, not mechanics.
Two events might result in the same current state but communicate very different intent. Recording the correct event type makes the timeline readable to humans, not just machines.
This becomes more important as logs grow.
Event types and history
Because event types are preserved, you can see patterns over time.
You can distinguish routine actions from corrections, planned movement from cleanup, and intentional structure from incidental change.
This context is lost in systems that rely only on final values.
Choosing the right event type
When recording an event, choose the type that best explains what happened.
If you are unsure, ask what you would want to understand later. The event type should answer that question clearly.
Clear event types make logs easier to trust, audit, and reason about over time.