> Documentation index for AI agents: https://docs.pagerduty.com/llms.txt

# Grafana: Search Traces

Searches a Grafana Tempo datasource for traces matching a TraceQL query.


> **Availability:** See the [Incident Workflow Actions Overview table](/workflow-actions) for the plans this workflow is available on.

## Description

Search a Grafana Tempo datasource for traces matching a TraceQL query. This action enables automated trace analysis during incident response, such as finding failing requests for a service, without manually searching in Grafana.

## Instructions

1. If you have not done so, follow the instructions to [Create an Incident Workflow](/ai-automation/automation/incident-workflows#create-an-incident-workflow).
2. When the instructions prompt you to [add actions](/ai-automation/automation/incident-workflows#add-actions), select **this action**.
3. Enter the following **Inputs** and click **Save**.
4. Continue following instructions to **Publish** the Workflow.
5. When the action runs, you will see the **Outputs** listed below.

## Inputs

> **Field References:** Fields with the **\{+\}** icon accept [Field References](/ai-automation/automation/incident-workflows#field-references), which can be useful for referencing incident data or outputs created in prior workflow steps. To add Field References, click **\{+\}**, or enter `{{`, and select relevant fields. Refer to the [Field References](/ai-automation/automation/incident-workflows#field-references) article for more information.

| Name                                     | Description                                                                                                                   |
| :--------------------------------------- | :---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Connection Input**                     | The Grafana Connection to use.                                                                                                |
| **Datasource**                           | The Tempo datasource UID to search.                                                                                           |
| **Query**                                | The TraceQL query. For example, `{ resource.service.name = "checkout" && status = error }`.                                   |
| **Start Time**<br />_(Optional)_         | The start of the search window, as a listed relative choice (`5m` to `7d`) or an ISO 8601 date. Defaults to `1h (Past 1 Hour)`. |
| **End Time**<br />_(Optional)_           | The end of the search window, as `Now`, a listed relative choice (`5m` to `1d`), or an ISO 8601 date. Defaults to `Now`.     |
| **Limit**<br />_(Optional)_              | Maximum number of traces to return, from 1 to 100. Defaults to 20.                                                            |
| **Spans Per Span Set**<br />_(Optional)_ | Maximum number of matching spans returned per trace, from 1 to 100. Defaults to 3.                                            |

## Outputs

| Name                 | Description                                                                                                                  |
| :------------------- | :--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Traces**           | Array of traces, each with `traceId`, `rootServiceName`, `rootTraceName`, `startTime`, `durationMs`, and `matchedSpans`.     |
| **Trace Count**      | Number of traces returned.                                                                                                   |
| **Truncated**        | Whether more traces matched than were returned.                                                                              |
| **Limit Used**       | The trace limit applied, after clamping to the allowed range.                                                                |
| **Inspected Bytes**  | Bytes Tempo inspected to answer the query.                                                                                   |
| **Query Used**       | The TraceQL query that was sent to Tempo.                                                                                    |
| **Time Range Start** | The start of the search window, in ISO 8601 format.                                                                          |
| **Time Range End**   | The end of the search window, in ISO 8601 format.                                                                            |
| **Result**           | Value that shows if the action was successful or not. Either `Success` or `Failed`.                                          |
| **Result Summary**   | Brief description of what the action did or if it failed.                                                                    |
| **Error**            | Brief description that is populated if the action failed.                                                                    |

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