What distinguishes monitor sinks from monitors?

The distinction that makes "monitors" different from "monitor sinks" fundamentally revolves around their functionality regarding data handling. Monitors are typically involved in the real-time observation and display of data, providing immediate feedback or analytics about system performance or resource usage. Essentially, they serve an active role in monitoring ongoing processes, giving users a live view of operations.

In contrast, monitor sinks are designed to collect and store data rather than display it actively. This means that while monitors present data as it happens, monitor sinks capture this data for later analysis or reference, functioning as a repository. This ability to store data seamlessly differentiates them from monitors, which focus primarily on real-time data presentation.

Understanding this distinction is key to recognizing the roles of each component in a data management architecture, particularly in scenarios where both real-time monitoring and data storage are crucial for comprehensive analysis and operational oversight.