Data lifecycle docs: Data streams page

[kilfoyle]

Data streams We need some more clarity here. Typical questions from customers are:

• What is an index template, what does it have to do with a data stream?
• What is the difference between a data stream and an index?
• In the Serverless docs we gloss over what the index templates are (22:40).

---

See also Improvements to "Templates" section: #2056

[shainaraskas]

@yetanothertw does this still belong to sprint 7?

[yetanothertw]

@shainaraskas oops, I've updated it now to the current sprint. Thank you

[yetanothertw]

After reviewing the Data streams page, I've found a reference to index templates in the Backing indices section and it links to the templates page for more information (where the concepts of component templates and index templates are expanded upon). I think the level of information available on this page is sufficient. The first item in this issue description is not applicable.

[kilfoyle]

For the third one, I haven't checked to see if the Serverless docs really don't explain templates, but if that's the case, perhaps we just need to add a link somewhere pointing to https://www.elastic.co/docs/manage-data/data-store/templates

[yetanothertw]

That's where the Data stream docs point to in the screenshot I shared above.

Were you thinking of adding this link somewhere else? I'll have a scan through Serverless docs to see.

[kilfoyle]

Were you thinking of adding this link somewhere else?

Ah, sorry. I wasn't very clear. I captured that review comment "In the Serverless docs we gloss over what the index templates are", but I'm not sure I agree with it.

I see that this Project settings page in the Serverless docs has a "data retention" section with a link to that data streams page, so that seems pretty good to me as is. Maybe we could also have a link to the the data stream lifecycle page, if you think that makes sense.

Anyhow, just like you found for the first bullet, I think the third bullet might also be not applicable. :-)

[yetanothertw]

I see that this Project settings page in the Serverless docs has a "data retention" section with a link to that data streams page, so that seems pretty good to me as is. Maybe we could also have a link to the the data stream lifecycle page, if you think that makes sense.

Excellent idea! I've linked to the section that describes how to update the data retention settings for a data stream:
#2976