Server logs are automated records created by web and application servers. They usually capture timestamps, source IP addresses, requested URLs, response codes, user agents, and error messages. In security work, these records help show who connected, what they requested, and whether the server returned unusual results.
Server logs matter because they are often the fastest way to verify or disprove a claim of compromise. Investigators use them to spot abnormal login attempts, repeated requests, scraping, exploit probes, unexpected downloads, or signs that sensitive pages were accessed. In real attacks, intruders may try to delete, alter, or flood logs to hide activity, so defenders often preserve logs centrally and compare them with firewall, authentication, and endpoint data. Good log review turns a vague allegation into evidence.