[[tutorial-define-index]]
=== Define your index patterns

Index patterns tell {kib} which {es} indices you want to explore.
An index pattern can match the name of a single index, or include a wildcard
(*) to match multiple indices. 

For example, Logstash typically creates a
series of indices in the format `logstash-YYYY.MMM.DD`. To explore all
of the log data from May 2018, you could specify the index pattern
`logstash-2018.05*`.

[float]
==== Create the index patterns

First you'll create index patterns for the Shakespeare data set, which has an
index named `shakespeare,` and the accounts data set, which has an index named
`bank`. These data sets don't contain time series data.

. Open the menu, then go to *Stack Management > {kib} > Index Patterns*.

. If this is your first index pattern, the *Create index pattern* page opens.

. In the *Index pattern name* field, enter `shakes*`.
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[role="screenshot"]
image::images/tutorial-pattern-1.png[Image showing how to enter shakes* in Index Pattern Name field]

. Click *Next step*.

. On the *Configure settings* page, *Create index pattern*.
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You’re presented a table of all fields and associated data types in the index.

. Create a second index pattern named  `ba*`. 

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==== Create an index pattern for the time series data

Create an index pattern for the Logstash index, which
contains the time series data.

. Create an index pattern named `logstash*`, then click *Next step*.

. From the *Time field* dropdown, select *@timestamp, then click *Create index pattern*.
+
[role="screenshot"]
image::images/tutorial_index_patterns.png[Image showing how to create an index pattern]