When is it recommended to define meta field values?

Defining meta field values during the input phase is important because it allows you to add relevant metadata to the data as it is ingested into Splunk. This is the stage where you can set properties such as source type, host, and index, which are critical for accurately categorizing and managing your data within Splunk. By establishing these values early in the process, you ensure that the data is correctly processed and organized throughout its lifecycle, which enhances search performance and data retrieval accuracy. Properly tagging and classifying your data at this stage can also facilitate better governance, management, and compliance, as it lays down a solid foundation for subsequent operations.