The 'Log::Agent' module provides an abstract layer for logging and tracing, which is independent from the actual method used to physically perform those activities. It acts as an agent (hence the name) that collects the requests and delegates processing to a sublayer: the logging driver.

The 'Log::Agent' module is meant to be used in all reusable components, since they cannot know in advance how the application which ends up using them will perform its logging activities: either by emitting messages on stdout and errors on stderr, or by directing messages to logfiles, or by using syslog(3).

The logging interface is common for all the logging drivers, and is therefore the result of a compromise between many logging schemes: any information given at this level must be either handled by all drivers, or may be ignored depending on the application's final choice.