# Labels

![](https://static.scarf.sh/a.png?x-pxid=1e9a2474-00c3-4d8d-b170-79996be7af79)

The **labels** processor lets you manipulate the labels of metrics.

Similar to filters, this processor presents a enriching/modifying mechanism to perform operations for labels manipulation. The most significant difference is that processors perform better than filters, and when chaining them there are no encoding or decoding performance penalties.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Note:** Both processors and this specific component can be enabled only by using the YAML configuration format. Classic mode configuration format doesn't support processors.
{% endhint %}

## Configuration Parameters

| Key    | Description                                                                                                                                                                             |
| ------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| update | Update an existing key with a value into metrics. The key/value pair is required. If the specified key doesn't exist, the operation silently fails and has no effect.                   |
| insert | Insert a new key with a value into metrics. The key/value pair is required.                                                                                                             |
| upsert | Upsert a specific key with a value, the `upsert` operation will try to update the value of the key. If the key does not exist, the key will be created. The key-value pair is required. |
| delete | Delete a key from the labels of metrics. The key/value pair is required. If the specified key doesn't exist, the operation silently fails and has no effect.                            |
| hash   | Replace the key value with a hash generated by the SHA-256 algorithm from the specified label name. The generated binary value is set as a hex string.                                  |

#### Update example

Change the value of the `name` to `fluentbit`:

```yaml
pipeline:
  inputs:
    - name: fluentbit_metrics
      processors:
        metrics:
          - name: labels
            update: name fluentbit
  outputs:
    - name : stdout
      match: '*'
```

#### Insert example

The following example appends the key `agent` with the value `fluentbit` as the label of metrics:

```yaml
pipeline:
  inputs:
    - name: fluentbit_metrics
      processors:
        metrics:
          - name: labels
            insert: agent fluentbit
  outputs:
    - name : stdout
      match: '*'
```

#### Upsert example

Upsert the value of `name` and insert `fluentbit`:

```yaml
pipeline:
  inputs:
    - name: fluentbit_metrics
      processors:
        metrics:
          - name: labels
            upsert: name fluentbit
  outputs:
    - name : stdout
      match: '*'
```

#### Delete example

Delete containing `name` key from metrics:

```yaml
pipeline:
  inputs:
    - name: fluentbit_metrics
      processors:
        metrics:
          - name: labels
            delete: name
  outputs:
    - name : stdout
      match: '*'
```

#### Hash example

Apply the SHA-1 algorithm for the value of the key `hostname`:

```yaml
pipeline:
  inputs:
    - name: fluentbit_metrics
      processors:
        metrics:
          - name: labels
            hash: hostname
  outputs:
    - name : stdout
      match: '*'
```


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.fluentbit.io/manual/3.2/pipeline/processors/labels.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.
