Log evaluation data from your code

Flexible, incremental way to log evaluation data from Python and TypeScript code

The EvaluationLogger provides a flexible, incremental way to log evaluation data directly from your Python or TypeScript code. You don’t need deep knowledge of Weave’s internal data types; simply instantiate a logger and use its methods (log_prediction, log_score, log_summary) to record evaluation steps.

This approach is particularly helpful in complex workflows where the entire dataset or all scorers might not be defined upfront.

In contrast to the standard Evaluation object, which requires a predefined Dataset and list of Scorer objects, the EvaluationLogger allows you to log individual predictions and their associated scores incrementally as they become available.

Prefer a more structured evaluation?

If you prefer a more opinionated evaluation framework with predefined datasets and scorers, see Weave’s standard Evaluation framework.

The EvaluationLogger offers flexibility while the standard framework offers structure and guidance.

Basic workflow

1. Initialize the logger: Create an instance of EvaluationLogger, optionally providing metadata about the model and dataset. Defaults will be used if omitted.
   To capture token usage and cost for LLM calls (for example, OpenAI), initialize EvaluationLogger before any LLM invocations**. If you call your LLM first and then log predictions afterward, token and cost data are not captured.

2. Log predictions: Call log_prediction() for each input/output pair from your system.
3. Log scores: Use the returned ScoreLogger to log_score() for the prediction. Multiple scores per prediction are supported.
4. Finish prediction: Always call finish() after logging scores for a prediction to finalize it.
5. Log summary: After all predictions are processed, call log_summary() to aggregate scores and add optional custom metrics.

After calling finish() on a prediction, no more scores can be logged for it.

For a Python code demonstrating the described workflow, see the Basic example. If the output and all scores are available at once, Python users can combine steps 2–4 into a single call using log_example().

Basic example

The following example shows how to use EvaluationLogger to log predictions and scores inline with your existing code.

Python

The user_model model function is defined and applied to a list of inputs. For each example:

• The input and output are logged using log_prediction.
• A simple correctness score (correctness_score) is logged via log_score.
• finish() finalizes logging for that prediction. Finally, log_summary records any aggregate metrics and triggers automatic score summarization in Weave.

import weave
from openai import OpenAI
from weave import EvaluationLogger

weave.init('your-team/your-project')

# Initialize EvaluationLogger BEFORE calling the model to ensure token tracking
eval_logger = EvaluationLogger(
    model="my_model",
    dataset="my_dataset"
)

# Example input data (this can be any data structure you want)
eval_samples = [
    {'inputs': {'a': 1, 'b': 2}, 'expected': 3},
    {'inputs': {'a': 2, 'b': 3}, 'expected': 5},
    {'inputs': {'a': 3, 'b': 4}, 'expected': 7},
]

# Example model logic using OpenAI
@weave.op
def user_model(a: int, b: int) -> int:
    oai = OpenAI()
    response = oai.chat.completions.create(
        messages=[{"role": "user", "content": f"What is {a}+{b}?"}],
        model="gpt-4o-mini"
    )
    # Use the response in some way (here we just return a + b for simplicity)
    return a + b

# Iterate through examples, predict, and log
for sample in eval_samples:
    inputs = sample["inputs"]
    model_output = user_model(**inputs) # Pass inputs as kwargs

    # Log the prediction input and output
    pred_logger = eval_logger.log_prediction(
        inputs=inputs,
        output=model_output
    )

    # Calculate and log a score for this prediction
    expected = sample["expected"]
    correctness_score = model_output == expected
    pred_logger.log_score(
        scorer="correctness", # Simple string name for the scorer
        score=correctness_score
    )

    # Finish logging for this specific prediction
    pred_logger.finish()

# Log a final summary for the entire evaluation.
# Weave auto-aggregates the 'correctness' scores logged above.
summary_stats = {"subjective_overall_score": 0.8}
eval_logger.log_summary(summary_stats)

print("Evaluation logging complete. View results in the Weave UI.")

TypeScript

The TypeScript SDK provides two API patterns:

1. Fire-and-forget API (recommended for most cases): Use logPrediction() without await for synchronous, non-blocking logging
2. Awaitable API: Use logPredictionAsync() with await when you need to ensure operations complete before proceeding

We recommend fire-and-forget for:

• High throughput: Process multiple predictions in parallel without waiting for each logging operation
• Minimal code disruption: Add evaluation logging without restructuring your existing async/await flow
• Simplicity: Less boilerplate code and cleaner syntax for most evaluation scenarios

The fire-and-forget pattern is safe because logSummary() automatically waits for all pending operations to complete before aggregating results.

The following example evaluates model predictions with the fire-and-forget pattern. It sets up an evaluation logger, runs a simple model on three test samples, and then logs the prediction without using await:

import weave, {EvaluationLogger} from 'weave';
import OpenAI from 'openai';

await weave.init('your-team/your-project');

// Initialize EvaluationLogger BEFORE calling the model to ensure token tracking
const evalLogger = new EvaluationLogger({
  name: 'my-eval',
  model: 'my_model',
  dataset: 'my_dataset'
});

// Example input data
const evalSamples = [
  {inputs: {a: 1, b: 2}, expected: 3},
  {inputs: {a: 2, b: 3}, expected: 5},
  {inputs: {a: 3, b: 4}, expected: 7},
];

// Example model logic using OpenAI
const userModel = weave.op(async function userModel(a: number, b: number): Promise<number> {
  const oai = new OpenAI();
  const response = await oai.chat.completions.create({
    messages: [{role: 'user', content: `What is ${a}+${b}?`}],
    model: 'gpt-4o-mini'
  });
  return a + b;
});

// Iterate through examples, predict, and log using fire-and-forget pattern
for (const sample of evalSamples) {
  const {inputs} = sample;
  const modelOutput = await userModel(inputs.a, inputs.b);

  // Fire-and-forget: No await needed for logPrediction
  const scoreLogger = evalLogger.logPrediction(inputs, modelOutput);

  // Calculate and log a score for this prediction
  const correctnessScore = modelOutput === sample.expected;

  // Fire-and-forget: No await needed for logScore
  scoreLogger.logScore('correctness', correctnessScore);

  // Fire-and-forget: No await needed for finish
  scoreLogger.finish();
}

// logSummary waits for all pending operations to complete internally
const summaryStats = {subjective_overall_score: 0.8};
await evalLogger.logSummary(summaryStats);

console.log('Evaluation logging complete. View results in the Weave UI.');

Use awaitable API when you need to ensure each operation completes before proceeding, such as when managing error handling or sequential dependencies.

In the following example, instead of calling logPrediction() without await, it uses logPredictionAsync() with await to ensure each operation completes before proceeding to the next one:

// Use logPredictionAsync instead of logPrediction
const scoreLogger = await evalLogger.logPredictionAsync(inputs, modelOutput);

// Await each operation
await scoreLogger.logScore('correctness', correctnessScore);
await scoreLogger.finish();

Simplified logging with log_example()

Use log_example() to log inputs, an output, and scores in a single call. This convenience method combines log_prediction(), log_score(), and finish() into one step, and is useful when you already have the inputs, model outputs, and scores ready to log, such as during batch or offline evaluations.

import weave
from weave import EvaluationLogger

weave.init('your-team-name/your-project-name')

eval_logger = EvaluationLogger(
    model="my_model",
    dataset="my_dataset"
)

eval_samples = [
    {'inputs': {'a': 1, 'b': 2}, 'expected': 3},
    {'inputs': {'a': 2, 'b': 3}, 'expected': 5},
    {'inputs': {'a': 3, 'b': 4}, 'expected': 7},
]

for sample in eval_samples:
    inputs = sample['inputs']
    output = inputs['a'] + inputs['b']

    eval_logger.log_example(
        inputs=inputs,
        output=output,
        scores={"correctness": output == sample['expected']}
    )

eval_logger.log_summary({"avg_score": 1.0})

The log_example() call above is equivalent to:

pred = eval_logger.log_prediction(inputs=inputs, output=output)
pred.log_score(scorer="correctness", score=output == sample['expected'])
pred.finish()

log_example() is not available for the Weave TypeScript SDK. TypeScript users should use the logPrediction() and logScore() pattern shown in the basic example.

Advanced usage

The EvaluationLogger offers flexible patterns beyond the basic workflow to accommodate more complex evaluation scenarios. This section covers advanced techniques including using context managers for automatic resource management, separating model execution from logging, working with rich media data, and comparing multiple model evaluations side-by-side.

Using context managers

The EvaluationLogger supports context managers (with statements) for both predictions and scores. This can provide cleaner code, automatic resource cleanup, and better tracking of nested operations like LLM judge calls.

Using with statements in this context provides:

• Automatic finish() calls when exiting the context
• Better token/cost tracking for nested LLM calls
• Setting output after model execution within the prediction context

Python

import openai
import weave

weave.init("nested-evaluation-example")
oai = openai.OpenAI()

# Initialize the logger
ev = weave.EvaluationLogger(
    model="gpt-4o-mini",
    dataset="joke_dataset"
)

user_prompt = "Tell me a joke"

# Use context manager for prediction - no need to call finish()
with ev.log_prediction(inputs={"user_prompt": user_prompt}) as pred:
    # Make your model call within the context
    result = oai.chat.completions.create(
        model="gpt-4o-mini",
        messages=[{"role": "user", "content": user_prompt}],
    )

    # Set the output after the model call
    pred.output = result.choices[0].message.content

    # Log simple scores
    pred.log_score("correctness", 1.0)
    pred.log_score("ambiguity", 0.3)
    
    # Use nested context manager for scores that require LLM calls
    with pred.log_score("llm_judge") as score:
        judge_result = oai.chat.completions.create(
            model="gpt-4o-mini",
            messages=[
                {"role": "system", "content": "Rate how funny the joke is from 1-5"},
                {"role": "user", "content": pred.output},
            ],
        )
        # Set the score value after computation
        score.value = judge_result.choices[0].message.content

# finish() is automatically called when exiting the 'with' block

ev.log_summary({"avg_score": 1.0})

This pattern ensures that all nested operations are tracked and attributed to the parent prediction, giving you accurate token usage and cost data in the Weave UI.

TypeScript

TypeScript doesn’t have Python’s with statement pattern for context managers. Instead, use the fire-and-forget pattern with explicit finish() calls.

The following example logs a prediction, adds simple scores and an LLM judge score, then finalizes the prediction with finish():

import weave from 'weave';
import OpenAI from 'openai';
import {EvaluationLogger} from 'weave/evaluationLogger';

await weave.init('your-team/your-project');
const oai = new OpenAI();

// Initialize the logger
const ev = new EvaluationLogger({
  name: 'joke-eval',
  model: 'gpt-4o-mini',
  dataset: 'joke_dataset',
});

const userPrompt = 'Tell me a joke';

// Get model output
const result = await oai.chat.completions.create({
  model: 'gpt-4o-mini',
  messages: [{role: 'user', content: userPrompt}],
});

const modelOutput = result.choices[0].message.content;

// Log prediction with output
const pred = ev.logPrediction({user_prompt: userPrompt}, modelOutput);

// Log simple scores
pred.logScore('correctness', 1.0);
pred.logScore('ambiguity', 0.3);

// For LLM judge scores, make the call and log the result
const judgeResult = await oai.chat.completions.create({
  model: 'gpt-4o-mini',
  messages: [
    {role: 'system', content: 'Rate how funny the joke is from 1-5'},
    {role: 'user', content: modelOutput || ''},
  ],
});
pred.logScore('llm_judge', judgeResult.choices[0].message.content);

// Explicitly call finish when done scoring
pred.finish();

await ev.logSummary({avg_score: 1.0});

While TypeScript doesn’t have automatic cleanup with context managers, logSummary() automatically finishes any unfinished predictions before aggregating results. You can rely on this behavior if you prefer not to call finish() explicitly.

Link to an existing dataset

When you pass raw datasets as inputs to log_prediction, Weave re-ingests the data with every evaluation run. This stores duplicate data, which may waste space if the dataset is large or if a large number of evaluations reuse it.

To avoid this duplication, publish your dataset to Weave before running any evaluations, then pass the published dataset’s rows as inputs. Weave resolves references to published rows using internal references instead of re-ingesting the data. This technique gives you the same linked experience as the standard Evaluation framework, where each prediction links back to a specific dataset row in the Weave UI.

The following example publishes a dataset and links to it in the EvaluationLogger, before retrieving and iterating over it like any other dataset.

Python

import weave
from weave import EvaluationLogger

weave.init("your-team-name/your-project-name")

# Publish the dataset (only needs to happen once)
dataset = weave.Dataset(
    name="my_eval_dataset",
    rows=[
      {"question": "What is the capitol of France?", "expected": "Paris"},
      {"question": "What U.S. state is Seattle in?", "expected": "Washington"},
      {"question": "In what country is Mount Fuji located in?", "expected": "Japan"},
    ],
)
weave.publish(dataset)

# Retrieve the published dataset
dataset = weave.ref("my_eval_dataset").get()

TypeScript

import weave, {EvaluationLogger, Dataset} from 'weave';

await weave.init('your-team-name/your-project-name');

// Publish the dataset (only needs to happen once)
const dataset = new Dataset({
  name: 'my_eval_dataset',
  rows: [
    {"question": "What is the capitol of France?", "expected": "Paris"},
    {"question": "What U.S. state is Seattle in?", "expected": "Washington"},
    {"question": "In what country is Mount Fuji located in?", "expected": "Japan"},
  ],
});
const datasetRef = await dataset.save();

// Retrieve the published dataset
const published = await datasetRef.get();

Get outputs before logging

You can first compute your model outputs, then separately log predictions and scores. This allows for better separation of evaluation and logging logic.

Python

# Initialize EvaluationLogger BEFORE calling the model to ensure token tracking
ev = EvaluationLogger(
    model="example_model",
    dataset="example_dataset"
)

# Model outputs (e.g. OpenAI calls) must happen after logger init for token tracking
outputs = [your_output_generator(**inputs) for inputs in your_dataset]
preds = [ev.log_prediction(inputs, output) for inputs, output in zip(your_dataset, outputs)]
for pred, output in zip(preds, outputs):
    pred.log_score(scorer="greater_than_5_scorer", score=output > 5)
    pred.log_score(scorer="greater_than_7_scorer", score=output > 7)
    pred.finish()

ev.log_summary()

TypeScript

The fire-and-forget pattern excels when processing multiple predictions in parallel.

The following example batch-processes evaluations in parallel by creating multiple concurrent instances of the EvaluationLogger:

// Initialize EvaluationLogger BEFORE calling the model to ensure token tracking
const ev = new EvaluationLogger({
  name: 'parallel-eval',
  model: 'example_model',
  dataset: 'example_dataset'
});

// Model outputs, such as OpenAI calls, must happen after logger init for token tracking
const outputs = await Promise.all(
  yourDataset.map(inputs => yourOutputGenerator(inputs))
);

// Fire-and-forget: Process all predictions without awaiting
const preds = yourDataset.map((inputs, i) =>
  ev.logPrediction(inputs, outputs[i])
);

preds.forEach((pred, i) => {
  const output = outputs[i];
  // Fire-and-forget: No await needed
  pred.logScore('greater_than_5_scorer', output > 5);
  pred.logScore('greater_than_7_scorer', output > 7);
  pred.finish();
});

// logSummary waits for all pending operations
await ev.logSummary();

You can use the fire-and-forget pattern to process as many evaluations in parallel as your compute resources allow.

Log rich media

Inputs, outputs, and scores can include rich media such as images, videos, audio, or structured tables. Simply pass a dict or media object into the log_prediction or log_score methods.

Python

import io
import wave
import struct
from PIL import Image
import random
from typing import Any
import weave

def generate_random_audio_wave_read(duration=2, sample_rate=44100):
    n_samples = duration * sample_rate
    amplitude = 32767  # 16-bit max amplitude

    buffer = io.BytesIO()

    # Write wave data to the buffer
    with wave.open(buffer, 'wb') as wf:
        wf.setnchannels(1)
        wf.setsampwidth(2)  # 16-bit
        wf.setframerate(sample_rate)

        for _ in range(n_samples):
            sample = random.randint(-amplitude, amplitude)
            wf.writeframes(struct.pack('<h', sample))

    # Rewind the buffer to the beginning so we can read from it
    buffer.seek(0)

    # Return a Wave_read object
    return wave.open(buffer, 'rb')

rich_media_dataset = [
    {
        'image': Image.new(
            "RGB",
            (100, 100),
            color=(
                random.randint(0, 255),
                random.randint(0, 255),
                random.randint(0, 255),
            ),
        ),
        "audio": generate_random_audio_wave_read(),
    }
    for _ in range(5)
]

@weave.op
def your_output_generator(image: Image.Image, audio) -> dict[str, Any]:
    return {
        "result": random.randint(0, 10),
        "image": image,
        "audio": audio,
    }

ev = EvaluationLogger(model="example_model", dataset="example_dataset")

for inputs in rich_media_dataset:
    output = your_output_generator(**inputs)
    pred = ev.log_prediction(inputs, output)
    pred.log_score(scorer="greater_than_5_scorer", score=output["result"] > 5)
    pred.log_score(scorer="greater_than_7_scorer", score=output["result"] > 7)

ev.log_summary()

TypeScript

The TypeScript SDK supports logging images and audio using the weaveImage and weaveAudio functions. The following example loads image and audio files, processes them through a model, and logs the results with scores.

import weave, {EvaluationLogger} from 'weave';
import * as fs from 'fs';

await weave.init('your-team/your-project');

// Load images and audio from files
const richMediaDataset = [
  {
    image: weave.weaveImage({data: fs.readFileSync('sample1.png')}),
    audio: weave.weaveAudio({data: fs.readFileSync('sample1.wav')}),
  },
  {
    image: weave.weaveImage({data: fs.readFileSync('sample2.png')}),
    audio: weave.weaveAudio({data: fs.readFileSync('sample2.wav')}),
  },
];

// Model that processes media and returns results
const yourOutputGenerator = weave.op(
  async (inputs: {image: any; audio: any}) => {
    const result = Math.floor(Math.random() * 10);
    return {
      result,
      image: inputs.image,
      audio: inputs.audio,
    };
  },
  {name: 'yourOutputGenerator'}
);

const ev = new EvaluationLogger({
  name: 'rich-media-eval',
  model: 'example_model',
  dataset: 'example_dataset',
});

for (const inputs of richMediaDataset) {
  const output = await yourOutputGenerator(inputs);

  // Log prediction with rich media in both inputs and outputs
  const pred = ev.logPrediction(inputs, output);
  pred.logScore('greater_than_5_scorer', output.result > 5);
  pred.logScore('greater_than_7_scorer', output.result > 7);
  pred.finish();
}

await ev.logSummary();

Log and compare multiple evaluations

With EvaluationLogger, you can log and compare multiple evaluations.

1. Run the code sample shown below.

2. In the Weave UI, navigate to the Evals tab.

3. Select the evals that you want to compare.

4. Click the Compare button. In the Compare view, you can:

   • Choose which Evals to add or remove
   • Choose which metrics to show or hide
   • Page through specific examples to see how different models performed for the same input on a given dataset

   For more information on comparisons, see Comparisons

Python

import weave

models = [
    "model1",
    "model2",
     {"name": "model3", "metadata": {"coolness": 9001}}
]

for model in models:
    # EvalLogger must be initialized before model calls to capture tokens
    ev = EvaluationLogger(
        name="comparison-eval",
        model=model, 
        dataset="example_dataset",
        scorers=["greater_than_3_scorer", "greater_than_5_scorer", "greater_than_7_scorer"],
        eval_attributes={"experiment_id": "exp_123"}
    )
    for inputs in your_dataset:
        output = your_output_generator(**inputs)
        pred = ev.log_prediction(inputs=inputs, output=output)
        pred.log_score(scorer="greater_than_3_scorer", score=output > 3)
        pred.log_score(scorer="greater_than_5_scorer", score=output > 5)
        pred.log_score(scorer="greater_than_7_scorer", score=output > 7)
        pred.finish()

    ev.log_summary()

TypeScript

import weave from 'weave';
import {EvaluationLogger} from 'weave/evaluationLogger';
import {WeaveObject} from 'weave/weaveObject';

await weave.init('your-team/your-project');

const models = [
  'model1',
  'model2',
  new WeaveObject({name: 'model3', metadata: {coolness: 9001}})
];

for (const model of models) {
  // EvalLogger must be initialized before model calls to capture tokens
  const ev = new EvaluationLogger({
    name: 'comparison-eval',
    model: model,
    dataset: 'example_dataset',
    description: 'Model comparison evaluation',
    scorers: ['greater_than_3_scorer', 'greater_than_5_scorer', 'greater_than_7_scorer'],
    attributes: {experiment_id: 'exp_123'}
  });

  for (const inputs of yourDataset) {
    const output = await yourOutputGenerator(inputs);

    // Fire-and-forget pattern for clean, efficient logging
    const pred = ev.logPrediction(inputs, output);
    pred.logScore('greater_than_3_scorer', output > 3);
    pred.logScore('greater_than_5_scorer', output > 5);
    pred.logScore('greater_than_7_scorer', output > 7);
    pred.finish();
  }

  await ev.logSummary();
}

Usage tips

Python

• Call finish() promptly after each prediction.
• Use log_summary to capture metrics not tied to single predictions (for example, overall latency).
• Rich media logging is great for qualitative analysis.

TypeScript

• Auto-finish behavior: While we recommend explicitly calling finish() on each prediction for clarity, logSummary() automatically finishes any unfinished predictions. However, once the script calls finish(), it cannot log anymore scores.
• Configuration options: Use configuration options, including name, description, dataset, model, scorers, and attributes to organize and filter your evaluations in the Weave UI.