# Semantic conventions for HTTP **Status**: [Mixed][DocumentStatus] This document defines semantic conventions for HTTP spans, metrics and logs. They can be used for http and https schemes and various HTTP versions like 1.1, 2 and SPDY. > **Warning** > Existing HTTP instrumentations that are using > [v1.20.0 of this document](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-specification/blob/v1.20.0/specification/trace/semantic_conventions/http.md) > (or prior): > > * SHOULD NOT change the version of the HTTP or networking conventions that they emit by default > until the HTTP semantic conventions are marked stable (HTTP stabilization will > include stabilization of a core set of networking conventions which are also used > in HTTP instrumentations). Conventions include, but are not limited to, attributes, > metric and span names, and unit of measure. > * SHOULD introduce an environment variable `OTEL_SEMCONV_STABILITY_OPT_IN` > in the existing major version as a comma-separated list of category-specific values > (e.g., http, databases, messaging). The list of values includes: > * `http` - emit the new, stable HTTP and networking conventions, > and stop emitting the old experimental HTTP and networking conventions > that the instrumentation emitted previously. > * `http/dup` - emit both the old and the stable HTTP and networking conventions, > allowing for a seamless transition. > * The default behavior (in the absence of one of these values) is to continue > emitting whatever version of the old experimental HTTP and networking conventions > the instrumentation was emitting previously. > * Note: `http/dup` has higher precedence than `http` in case both values are present > * SHOULD maintain (security patching at a minimum) the existing major version > for at least six months after it starts emitting both sets of conventions. > * SHOULD drop the environment variable in the next major version. Semantic conventions for HTTP are defined for the following signals: * [HTTP Spans](http-spans.md): Semantic Conventions for HTTP client and server *spans*. * [HTTP Metrics](http-metrics.md): Semantic Conventions for HTTP client and server *metrics*. For help migrating from non-stable to stable conventions, see [the migration guide](../non-normative/http-migration.md). [DocumentStatus]: https://opentelemetry.io/docs/specs/otel/document-status