---
title: Graphite output data format
description: Use the graphite output data format (serializer) to format and output Telegraf metrics as Graphite Message Format.
url: https://docs.influxdata.com/telegraf/v1/data_formats/output/graphite/
estimated_tokens: 985
product: Telegraf
version: v1
---

# Graphite output data format

Use the `graphite` output data format (serializer) to format and output Telegraf metrics as [Graphite Message Format](https://graphite.readthedocs.io/en/latest/feeding-carbon.html#step-3-understanding-the-graphite-message-format).

The serializer uses either the *template pattern* method (*default*) or the *tag support* method. To use the tag support method, set the [`graphite_tag_support`](#graphite_tag_support) option.

## Configuration

```toml
[[outputs.file]]
  ## Files to write to, "stdout" is a specially handled file.
  files = ["stdout", "/tmp/metrics.out"]

  ## Data format to output.
  ## Each data format has its own unique set of configuration options, read
  ## more about them here:
  ## https://github.com/influxdata/telegraf/blob/master/docs/DATA_FORMATS_OUTPUT.md
  data_format = "graphite"

  ## Prefix added to each graphite bucket
  prefix = "telegraf"
  ## Graphite template pattern
  template = "host.tags.measurement.field"

  ## Support Graphite tags, recommended to enable when using Graphite 1.1 or later.
  # graphite_tag_support = false
```

### graphite\_tag\_support

When the `graphite_tag_support` option is enabled, the template pattern is not used. Instead, tags are encoded using [Graphite tag support](http://graphite.readthedocs.io/en/latest/tags.html), added in Graphite 1.1. The `metric_path` is a combination of the optional `prefix` option, measurement name, and field name.

The tag `name` is reserved by Graphite, any conflicting tags and will be encoded as `_name`.

**Example conversion**:

```
cpu,cpu=cpu-total,dc=us-east-1,host=tars usage_idle=98.09,usage_user=0.89 1455320660004257758
=>
cpu.usage_user;cpu=cpu-total;dc=us-east-1;host=tars 0.89 1455320690
cpu.usage_idle;cpu=cpu-total;dc=us-east-1;host=tars 98.09 1455320690
```

### Templates

To learn more about using templates and template patterns, see [Template patterns](/telegraf/v1/configure_plugins/template-patterns/).