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Elastic Docs ›Elasticsearch Guide [8.16] ›REST APIs ›Ingest APIs

Simulate ingest API

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Simulate ingest API

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Executes ingest pipelines against a set of provided documents, optionally with substitute pipeline definitions. This API is meant to be used for troubleshooting or pipeline development, as it does not actually index any data into Elasticsearch.

POST /_ingest/_simulate
{
  "docs": [
    {
      "_index": "my-index",
      "_id": "id",
      "_source": {
        "foo": "bar"
      }
    },
    {
      "_index": "my-index",
      "_id": "id",
      "_source": {
        "foo": "rab"
      }
    }
  ],
  "pipeline_substitutions": { 
    "my-pipeline": {
      "processors": [
        {
          "set": {
            "field": "field3",
            "value": "value3"
          }
        }
      ]
    }
  },
  "component_template_substitutions": { 
    "my-component-template": {
      "template": {
        "mappings": {
          "dynamic": "true",
          "properties": {
            "field3": {
              "type": "keyword"
            }
          }
        },
        "settings": {
          "index": {
            "default_pipeline": "my-pipeline"
          }
        }
      }
    }
  },
  "index_template_substitutions": { 
    "my-index-template": {
      "index_patterns": ["my-index-*"],
      "composed_of": ["component_template_1", "component_template_2"]
    }
  }
}
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This replaces the existing my-pipeline pipeline with the contents given here for the duration of this request.

This replaces the existing my-component-template component template with the contents given here for the duration of this request. These templates can be used to change the pipeline(s) used, or to modify the mapping that will be used to validate the result.

This replaces the existing my-index-template index template with the contents given here for the duration of this request. These templates can be used to change the pipeline(s) used, or to modify the mapping that will be used to validate the result.

Request

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POST /_ingest/_simulate

GET /_ingest/_simulate

POST /_ingest/<target>/_simulate

GET /_ingest/<target>/_simulate

Prerequisites

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  • If the Elasticsearch security features are enabled, you must have the index or create index privileges to use this API.

Description

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The simulate ingest API simulates ingesting data into an index. It executes the default and final pipeline for that index against a set of documents provided in the body of the request. If a pipeline contains a reroute processor, it follows that reroute processor to the new index, executing that index’s pipelines as well the same way that a non-simulated ingest would. No data is indexed into Elasticsearch. Instead, the transformed document is returned, along with the list of pipelines that have been executed and the name of the index where the document would have been indexed if this were not a simulation. The transformed document is validated against the mappings that would apply to this index, and any validation error is reported in the result.

This API differs from the simulate pipeline API in that you specify a single pipeline for that API, and it only runs that one pipeline. The simulate pipeline API is more useful for developing a single pipeline, while the simulate ingest API is more useful for troubleshooting the interaction of the various pipelines that get applied when ingesting into an index.

By default, the pipeline definitions that are currently in the system are used. However, you can supply substitute pipeline definitions in the body of the request. These will be used in place of the pipeline definitions that are already in the system. This can be used to replace existing pipeline definitions or to create new ones. The pipeline substitutions are only used within this request.

Path parameters

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<target>
(Optional, string) The index to simulate ingesting into. This can be overridden by specifying an index on each document. If you provide a <target> in the request path, it is used for any documents that don’t explicitly specify an index argument.

Query parameters

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pipeline
(Optional, string) Pipeline to use as the default pipeline. This can be used to override the default pipeline of the index being ingested into.

Request body

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docs

(Required, array of objects) Sample documents to test in the pipeline.

Properties of docs objects
_id
(Optional, string) Unique identifier for the document.
_index
(Optional, string) Name of the index that the document will be ingested into.
_source
(Required, object) JSON body for the document.
pipeline_substitutions

(Optional, map of strings to objects) Map of pipeline IDs to substitute pipeline definition objects.

Properties of pipeline definition objects
description
(Optional, string) Description of the ingest pipeline.
on_failure

(Optional, array of processor objects) Processors to run immediately after a processor failure.

Each processor supports a processor-level on_failure value. If a processor without an on_failure value fails, Elasticsearch uses this pipeline-level parameter as a fallback. The processors in this parameter run sequentially in the order specified. Elasticsearch will not attempt to run the pipeline’s remaining processors.

processors
(Required, array of processor objects) Processors used to perform transformations on documents before indexing. Processors run sequentially in the order specified.
version

(Optional, integer) Version number used by external systems to track ingest pipelines.

See the if_version parameter above for how the version attribute is used.

_meta
(Optional, object) Optional metadata about the ingest pipeline. May have any contents. This map is not automatically generated by Elasticsearch.
deprecated
(Optional, boolean) Marks this ingest pipeline as deprecated. When a deprecated ingest pipeline is referenced as the default or final pipeline when creating or updating a non-deprecated index template, Elasticsearch will emit a deprecation warning.
component_template_substitutions

(Optional, map of strings to objects) Map of component template names to substitute component template definition objects.

Properties of component template definition objects
template

(Required, object) This is the template to be applied, may optionally include a mappings, settings, or aliases configuration.

Properties of template
aliases

(Optional, object of objects) Aliases to add.

If the index template includes a data_stream object, these are data stream aliases. Otherwise, these are index aliases. Data stream aliases ignore the index_routing, routing, and search_routing options.

Properties of aliases objects
<alias>

(Required, object) The key is the alias name. Index alias names support date math.

The object body contains options for the alias. Supports an empty object.

Properties of <alias>
filter
(Optional, Query DSL object) Query used to limit documents the alias can access.
index_routing
(Optional, string) Value used to route indexing operations to a specific shard. If specified, this overwrites the routing value for indexing operations.
is_hidden
(Optional, Boolean) If true, the alias is hidden. Defaults to false. All indices for the alias must have the same is_hidden value.
is_write_index
(Optional, Boolean) If true, the index is the write index for the alias. Defaults to false.
routing
(Optional, string) Value used to route indexing and search operations to a specific shard.
search_routing
(Optional, string) Value used to route search operations to a specific shard. If specified, this overwrites the routing value for search operations.
mappings

(Optional, mapping object) Mapping for fields in the index. If specified, this mapping can include:

See Mapping.

settings
(Optional, index setting object) Configuration options for the index. See Index settings.
version
(Optional, integer) Version number used to manage component templates externally. This number is not automatically generated or incremented by Elasticsearch.
allow_auto_create
(Optional, Boolean) This setting overrides the value of the action.auto_create_index cluster setting. If set to true in a template, then indices can be automatically created using that template even if auto-creation of indices is disabled via actions.auto_create_index. If set to false, then indices or data streams matching the template must always be explicitly created, and may never be automatically created.
_meta
(Optional, object) Optional user metadata about the component template. May have any contents. This map is not automatically generated by Elasticsearch.
deprecated
(Optional, boolean) Marks this component template as deprecated. When a deprecated component template is referenced when creating or updating a non-deprecated index template, Elasticsearch will emit a deprecation warning.
index_template_substitutions

(Optional, map of strings to objects) Map of index template names to substitute index template definition objects.

Properties of index template definition objects
composed_of
(Optional, array of strings) An ordered list of component template names. Component templates are merged in the order specified, meaning that the last component template specified has the highest precedence. See Composing multiple component templates for an example.
data_stream

(Optional, object) If this object is included, the template is used to create data streams and their backing indices. Supports an empty object.

Data streams require a matching index template with a data_stream object. See create an index template.

Properties of data_stream
allow_custom_routing
(Optional, Boolean) If true, the data stream supports custom routing. Defaults to false.
hidden
(Optional, Boolean) If true, the data stream is hidden. Defaults to false.
index_mode

(Optional, string) Type of data stream to create. Valid values are null (regular data stream) and time_series (time series data stream).

If time_series, each backing index has an index.mode index setting of time_series.

index_patterns

(Required, array of strings) Array of wildcard (*) expressions used to match the names of data streams and indices during creation.

Elasticsearch includes several built-in index templates. To avoid naming collisions with these templates, see Avoid index pattern collisions.

_meta
(Optional, object) Optional user metadata about the index template. May have any contents. This map is not automatically generated by Elasticsearch.
priority
(Optional, integer) Priority to determine index template precedence when a new data stream or index is created. The index template with the highest priority is chosen. If no priority is specified the template is treated as though it is of priority 0 (lowest priority). This number is not automatically generated by Elasticsearch.
template

(Optional, object) Template to be applied. It may optionally include an aliases, mappings, or settings configuration.

Properties of template
aliases

(Optional, object of objects) Aliases to add.

If the index template includes a data_stream object, these are data stream aliases. Otherwise, these are index aliases. Data stream aliases ignore the index_routing, routing, and search_routing options.

Properties of aliases objects
<alias>

(Required, object) The key is the alias name. Index alias names support date math.

The object body contains options for the alias. Supports an empty object.

Properties of <alias>
filter
(Optional, Query DSL object) Query used to limit documents the alias can access.
index_routing
(Optional, string) Value used to route indexing operations to a specific shard. If specified, this overwrites the routing value for indexing operations.
is_hidden
(Optional, Boolean) If true, the alias is hidden. Defaults to false. All indices for the alias must have the same is_hidden value.
is_write_index
(Optional, Boolean) If true, the index is the write index for the alias. Defaults to false.
routing
(Optional, string) Value used to route indexing and search operations to a specific shard.
search_routing
(Optional, string) Value used to route search operations to a specific shard. If specified, this overwrites the routing value for search operations.
mappings

(Optional, mapping object) Mapping for fields in the index. If specified, this mapping can include:

See Mapping.

settings
(Optional, index setting object) Configuration options for the index. See Index settings.
version
(Optional, integer) Version number used to manage index templates externally. This number is not automatically generated by Elasticsearch.
deprecated
(Optional, boolean) Marks this index template as deprecated. When creating or updating a non-deprecated index template that uses deprecated components, Elasticsearch will emit a deprecation warning.

Examples

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Use pre-existing pipeline definitions

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In this example the index index has a default pipeline called my-pipeline and a final pipeline called my-final-pipeline. Since both documents are being ingested into index, both pipelines are executed using the pipeline definitions that are already in the system.

resp = client.simulate.ingest(
    body={
        "docs": [
            {
                "_index": "my-index",
                "_id": "123",
                "_source": {
                    "foo": "bar"
                }
            },
            {
                "_index": "my-index",
                "_id": "456",
                "_source": {
                    "foo": "rab"
                }
            }
        ]
    },
)
print(resp)
response = client.simulate.ingest(
  body: {
    docs: [
      {
        _index: 'my-index',
        _id: '123',
        _source: {
          foo: 'bar'
        }
      },
      {
        _index: 'my-index',
        _id: '456',
        _source: {
          foo: 'rab'
        }
      }
    ]
  }
)
puts response
const response = await client.simulate.ingest({
  docs: [
    {
      _index: "my-index",
      _id: "123",
      _source: {
        foo: "bar",
      },
    },
    {
      _index: "my-index",
      _id: "456",
      _source: {
        foo: "rab",
      },
    },
  ],
});
console.log(response);
POST /_ingest/_simulate
{
  "docs": [
    {
      "_index": "my-index",
      "_id": "123",
      "_source": {
        "foo": "bar"
      }
    },
    {
      "_index": "my-index",
      "_id": "456",
      "_source": {
        "foo": "rab"
      }
    }
  ]
}
Copy as curlTry in Elastic 

The API returns the following response:

{
   "docs": [
      {
         "doc": {
            "_id": "123",
            "_index": "my-index",
            "_version": -3,
            "_source": {
               "field1": "value1",
               "field2": "value2",
               "foo": "bar"
            },
            "executed_pipelines": [
               "my-pipeline",
               "my-final-pipeline"
            ]
         }
      },
      {
         "doc": {
            "_id": "456",
            "_index": "my-index",
            "_version": -3,
            "_source": {
               "field1": "value1",
               "field2": "value2",
               "foo": "rab"
            },
            "executed_pipelines": [
               "my-pipeline",
               "my-final-pipeline"
            ]
         }
      }
   ]
}

Specify a pipeline substitution in the request body

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In this example the index my-index has a default pipeline called my-pipeline and a final pipeline called my-final-pipeline. But a substitute definition of my-pipeline is provided in pipeline_substitutions. The substitute my-pipeline will be used in place of the my-pipeline that is in the system, and then the my-final-pipeline that is already defined in the system will be executed.

resp = client.simulate.ingest(
    body={
        "docs": [
            {
                "_index": "my-index",
                "_id": "123",
                "_source": {
                    "foo": "bar"
                }
            },
            {
                "_index": "my-index",
                "_id": "456",
                "_source": {
                    "foo": "rab"
                }
            }
        ],
        "pipeline_substitutions": {
            "my-pipeline": {
                "processors": [
                    {
                        "uppercase": {
                            "field": "foo"
                        }
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    },
)
print(resp)
response = client.simulate.ingest(
  body: {
    docs: [
      {
        _index: 'my-index',
        _id: '123',
        _source: {
          foo: 'bar'
        }
      },
      {
        _index: 'my-index',
        _id: '456',
        _source: {
          foo: 'rab'
        }
      }
    ],
    pipeline_substitutions: {
      "my-pipeline": {
        processors: [
          {
            uppercase: {
              field: 'foo'
            }
          }
        ]
      }
    }
  }
)
puts response
const response = await client.simulate.ingest({
  docs: [
    {
      _index: "my-index",
      _id: "123",
      _source: {
        foo: "bar",
      },
    },
    {
      _index: "my-index",
      _id: "456",
      _source: {
        foo: "rab",
      },
    },
  ],
  pipeline_substitutions: {
    "my-pipeline": {
      processors: [
        {
          uppercase: {
            field: "foo",
          },
        },
      ],
    },
  },
});
console.log(response);
POST /_ingest/_simulate
{
  "docs": [
    {
      "_index": "my-index",
      "_id": "123",
      "_source": {
        "foo": "bar"
      }
    },
    {
      "_index": "my-index",
      "_id": "456",
      "_source": {
        "foo": "rab"
      }
    }
  ],
  "pipeline_substitutions": {
    "my-pipeline": {
      "processors": [
        {
          "uppercase": {
            "field": "foo"
          }
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}
Copy as curlTry in Elastic 

The API returns the following response:

{
   "docs": [
      {
         "doc": {
            "_id": "123",
            "_index": "my-index",
            "_version": -3,
            "_source": {
               "field2": "value2",
               "foo": "BAR"
            },
            "executed_pipelines": [
               "my-pipeline",
               "my-final-pipeline"
            ]
         }
      },
      {
         "doc": {
            "_id": "456",
            "_index": "my-index",
            "_version": -3,
            "_source": {
               "field2": "value2",
               "foo": "RAB"
            },
            "executed_pipelines": [
               "my-pipeline",
               "my-final-pipeline"
            ]
         }
      }
   ]
}

Specify a component template substitution in the request body

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In this example, imagine that the index my-index has a strict mapping with only the foo keyword field defined. Say that field mapping came from a component template named my-mappings-template. We want to test adding a new field, bar. So a substitute definition of my-mappings-template is provided in component_template_substitutions. The substitute my-mappings-template will be used in place of the existing mapping for my-index and in place of the my-mappings-template that is in the system.

resp = client.simulate.ingest(
    body={
        "docs": [
            {
                "_index": "my-index",
                "_id": "123",
                "_source": {
                    "foo": "foo"
                }
            },
            {
                "_index": "my-index",
                "_id": "456",
                "_source": {
                    "bar": "rab"
                }
            }
        ],
        "component_template_substitutions": {
            "my-mappings_template": {
                "template": {
                    "mappings": {
                        "dynamic": "strict",
                        "properties": {
                            "foo": {
                                "type": "keyword"
                            },
                            "bar": {
                                "type": "keyword"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    },
)
print(resp)
const response = await client.simulate.ingest({
  docs: [
    {
      _index: "my-index",
      _id: "123",
      _source: {
        foo: "foo",
      },
    },
    {
      _index: "my-index",
      _id: "456",
      _source: {
        bar: "rab",
      },
    },
  ],
  component_template_substitutions: {
    "my-mappings_template": {
      template: {
        mappings: {
          dynamic: "strict",
          properties: {
            foo: {
              type: "keyword",
            },
            bar: {
              type: "keyword",
            },
          },
        },
      },
    },
  },
});
console.log(response);
POST /_ingest/_simulate
{
  "docs": [
    {
      "_index": "my-index",
      "_id": "123",
      "_source": {
        "foo": "foo"
      }
    },
    {
      "_index": "my-index",
      "_id": "456",
      "_source": {
        "bar": "rab"
      }
    }
  ],
  "component_template_substitutions": {
    "my-mappings_template": {
      "template": {
        "mappings": {
          "dynamic": "strict",
          "properties": {
            "foo": {
              "type": "keyword"
            },
            "bar": {
              "type": "keyword"
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}
Copy as curlTry in Elastic 

The API returns the following response:

{
   "docs": [
      {
         "doc": {
            "_id": "123",
            "_index": "my-index",
            "_version": -3,
            "_source": {
               "foo": "foo"
            },
            "executed_pipelines": []
         }
      },
      {
         "doc": {
            "_id": "456",
            "_index": "my-index",
            "_version": -3,
            "_source": {
               "bar": "rab"
            },
            "executed_pipelines": []
         }
      }
   ]
}
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