log-level

The --log-level parameter controls the amount of messages that are generated when running Liquibase commands. You can set --log-level to the following values:

  • SEVERE (least verbose): Show serious failures that may prevent program execution.
  • WARNING: Show potential problems for program execution.
  • INFO: Show informational messages.
  • FINE (most verbose; formerly DEBUG): Show tracing information of program execution and minor failures.
  • OFF: Hide all log messages.

If you set --log-level to a particular level, it will show all messages at that level and at less verbose levels. For example, setting the log level to SEVERE only shows SEVERE logs, but setting it to FINE shows FINE, INFO, WARNING, and SEVERE logs.

The --log-level default value is OFF. However, if you use the --log-file attribute to send your logs to a different file and don't specify the --log-level parameter, Liquibase will automatically change the --log-level default value from OFF to SEVERE.

Uses

The --log-level parameter applies to all Liquibase commands. It can be used to get more information about the actions that Liquibase commands perform, as well as provide helpful information to resolve errors.

The value of SEVERE provides messages regarding serious errors. You may find it useful to set the --log-level to INFO to see a more complete list of the operations that a command performs. Use the FINE level to help resolve errors.

Using the --log-level parameter

Tip: For best results, specify all commands and parameters in the --kebab-case format in the CLI. If your preference is camelCase, it also works in the CLI.

--log-level is an optional parameter that is either set in the Liquibase properties file or specified on the command line. The --log-level specified on the command line overrides the value set in the properties file.

Examples

liquibase --log-level=FINE update
liquibase --log-level=INFO update-testing-rollback

Maven

If you use Maven, you can control the log level of Liquibase Maven plugin with MAVEN_OPTS by passing the following command: MAVEN_OPTS=-Dorg.slf4j.simpleLogger.defaultLogLevel=DEBUG. You can also edit the log level in the ${maven.home}/conf/logging/simplelogger.properties file.

Note: To disable the logging, run MAVEN_OPTS=-Dorg.slf4j.simpleLogger.defaultLogLevel=OFF. For more information, see Configuring logging.

Syntax

You can set this parameter in the following ways:

Option Syntax
Liquibase properties file (defaults file) 
liquibase.logLevel: <string>
Global flow file argument (example) 
stages:
  Default:
    actions:
      - type: liquibase
        command: update
        globalArgs: { log-level: "<string>" }
Global CLI parameter 
liquibase
 --log-level=<string> update
 --changelog-file=example-changelog.xml

JVM system property (JAVA_OPTS Environment Variable)

Unix:

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.logLevel=<string>

Windows:

JAVA_OPTS=-D"liquibase.logLevel"=<string>
Liquibase Environment Variables 
LIQUIBASE_LOG_LEVEL=<string>

For more information, see Working with Command Parameters.

Using the --sql-log-level property alongside --log-level

The SQL log level is set to FINE by default. This behavior can be modified using --sql-log-level property.

For example, if you would like the log SQL statements to have the INFO log level, then you would specify --sql-log-level=INFO in your Liquibase command:

liquibase --sql-log-level=INFO --log-level=INFO update

Note: The --log-level property is required for --sql-log-level to operate successfully.

Other ways to specify --sql-log-level

  1. Define the JAVA_OPTS Environment Variable prior to running your Liquibase command:
    2. JAVA_OPTS="-Dliquibase.sql.logLevel=INFO -Dliquibase.logLevel=INFO"
  2. Define environment variables:
    3. LIQUIBASE_SQL_LOG_LEVEL=INFO and LIQUIBASE_LOG_LEVEL=INFO
  3. Command line argument:
    4. --sql-log-level=INFO --log-level=INFO
  4. liquibase.properties setting:
    5. liquibase.sql.logLevel=INFO and liquibase.logLevel=INFO

Output

The following examples show the Liquibase logs of when you try to create the same table twice:

[2024-05-30 14:15:08] FINE [liquibase.integration] Performance monitoring disabled
[2024-05-30 14:15:08] INFO [liquibase.integration] Starting command execution.
[2024-05-30 14:15:08] FINE [liquibase.command] Found ProUpdateCommandStep override for UpdateCommandStep! Using ProUpdateCommandStep in pipeline.
[2024-05-30 14:15:08] FINE [liquibase.command] Found ProChangeExecListenerCommandStep override for ChangeExecListenerCommandStep! Using ProChangeExecListenerCommandStep in pipeline.
[2024-05-30 14:15:08] FINE [liquibase.command] Found ProChangeExecListenerCommandStep override for ChangeExecListenerCommandStep! Using ProChangeExecListenerCommandStep in pipeline.
[2024-05-30 14:15:08] FINE [liquibase.configuration] No configuration value for liquibase.outputFile found
[2024-05-30 14:15:08] FINE [liquibase.servicelocator] Loaded liquibase.io.OutputFileHandler instance liquibase.io.StandardOutputFileHandler
[2024-05-30 14:15:08] FINE [liquibase.servicelocator] Loaded liquibase.io.OutputFileHandler instance com.datical.liquibase.ext.io.ProOutputFileHandler
[2024-05-30 14:15:08] FINE [liquibase.configuration] No configuration value for liquibase.strict found
[2024-05-30 14:15:08] FINE [liquibase.configuration] Configuration liquibase.strict is using the default value of false
[2024-05-30 14:15:08] WARNING [liquibase.configuration] Potentially ignored key(s) in file exists at path liquibase.properties

(...)

[2024-05-30 14:15:08] INFO [liquibase.ui] Running Changeset: changelog.xml::2::nvoxland
[2024-05-30 14:15:08] FINE [liquibase.changelog] Running Changeset: changelog.xml::2::nvoxland
[2024-05-30 14:15:08] FINE [liquibase.executor] Changeset changelog.xml::2::nvoxland
[2024-05-30 14:15:08] FINE [liquibase.changelog] Reading ChangeSet: changelog.xml::2::nvoxland
[2024-05-30 14:15:08] FINE [liquibase.executor] Executing Statement: liquibase.statement.core.CreateTableStatement@5ebffb44
[2024-05-30 14:15:08] FINE [liquibase.executor] CREATE TABLE PUBLIC.person (id INT GENERATED BY DEFAULT AS IDENTITY NOT NULL, firstname VARCHAR(50), lastname VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL, state CHAR(2), CONSTRAINT PK_PERSON PRIMARY KEY (id))
[2024-05-30 14:15:08] SEVERE [liquibase.changelog] ChangeSet changelog.xml::2::nvoxland encountered an exception.
[2024-05-30 14:15:56] INFO [liquibase.integration] Starting command execution.
[2024-05-30 14:15:56] WARNING [liquibase.configuration] Potentially ignored key(s) in file exists at path liquibase.properties
 - 'sqlLogLevel'
[2024-05-30 14:15:56] INFO [liquibase.database] Set default schema name to PUBLIC
[2024-05-30 14:15:56] INFO [liquibase.changelog] Reading from PUBLIC.DATABASECHANGELOG
[2024-05-30 14:15:56] INFO [liquibase.lockservice] Successfully acquired change log lock
[2024-05-30 14:15:56] INFO [liquibase.command] Using deploymentId: 7089356978
[2024-05-30 14:15:56] INFO [liquibase.changelog] Reading from PUBLIC.DATABASECHANGELOG
[2024-05-30 14:15:56] INFO [liquibase.ui] Running Changeset: changelog.xml::2::nvoxland
[2024-05-30 14:15:57] SEVERE [liquibase.changelog] ChangeSet changelog.xml::2::nvoxland encountered an exception.
[2024-05-30 14:16:23] WARNING [liquibase.configuration] Potentially ignored key(s) in file exists at path liquibase.properties
 - 'sqlLogLevel'
[2024-05-30 14:16:23] SEVERE [liquibase.changelog] ChangeSet changelog.xml::2::nvoxland encountered an exception.
liquibase.exception.DatabaseException: Table "PERSON" already exists;
[2024-05-30 14:17:01] SEVERE [liquibase.changelog] ChangeSet changelog.xml::2::nvoxland encountered an exception.

Related links