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Document LLMObs trace sampling controls for Python and Node.js SDKs #37602

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Document LLMObs trace sampling controls for Python SDK
Yun-Kim Jun 17, 2026
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Document LLMObs trace sampling controls for Node.js SDK
Yun-Kim Jun 24, 2026
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Address review: align sampling wording, clarify backend-side drop
Yun-Kim Jun 26, 2026
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20 changes: 20 additions & 0 deletions content/en/llm_observability/instrumentation/sdk.md
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Expand Up @@ -88,11 +88,17 @@ DD_LLMOBS_ML_APP=<YOUR_ML_APP_NAME> ddtrace-run <YOUR_APP_STARTUP_COMMAND>
: optional - _integer or string_ - **default**: `false`
<br />Only required if you are not using the Datadog Agent, in which case this should be set to `1` or `true`.

`DD_LLMOBS_SAMPLE_RATE`
: optional - _float_ - **default**: `1.0`
<br />The fraction of traces to submit to Agent Observability, between `0.0` (drop everything) and `1.0` (submit everything). The sampling decision is made on the root span and inherited by all of its child spans (including downstream services). This sampling is independent of in-app controls such as [automation rules][2] and [APM trace sampling][3].

`DD_API_KEY`
: optional - _string_
<br />Your Datadog API key. Only required if you are not using the Datadog Agent.

[1]: /getting_started/tagging/unified_service_tagging?tab=kubernetes#non-containerized-environment
[2]: /llm_observability/monitoring/automation_rules/
[3]: /tracing/trace_pipeline/ingestion_mechanisms/
{{% /tab %}}

{{% tab "Node.js" %}}
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -124,11 +130,17 @@ DD_LLMOBS_ML_APP=<YOUR_ML_APP_NAME> NODE_OPTIONS="--import dd-trace/initialize.m
: optional - _integer or string_ - **default**: `false`
<br />Only required if you are not using the Datadog Agent, in which case this should be set to `1` or `true`.

`DD_LLMOBS_SAMPLE_RATE`
: optional - _float_ - **default**: `1.0`
<br />The fraction of traces to submit to Agent Observability, between `0.0` (drop everything) and `1.0` (submit everything). The sampling decision is made on the root span and inherited by all of its child spans (including downstream services). This sampling is independent of in-app controls such as [automation rules][2] and [APM trace sampling][3].

`DD_API_KEY`
: optional - _string_
<br />Your Datadog API key. Only required if you are not using the Datadog Agent.

[1]: /getting_started/tagging/unified_service_tagging?tab=kubernetes#non-containerized-environment
[2]: /llm_observability/monitoring/automation_rules/
[3]: /tracing/trace_pipeline/ingestion_mechanisms/
{{% /tab %}}
{{% tab "Java" %}}

Expand Down Expand Up @@ -208,6 +220,10 @@ LLMObs.enable(
: optional - _boolean_ - **default**: `false`
<br />Only required if you are not using the Datadog Agent, in which case this should be set to `True`. This configures the `ddtrace` library to not send any data that requires the Datadog Agent. If not provided, this defaults to the value of `DD_LLMOBS_AGENTLESS_ENABLED`.

`sample_rate`
: optional - _float_
<br />The fraction of traces to submit to Agent Observability, between `0.0` (drop everything) and `1.0` (submit everything). The sampling decision is made on the root span and inherited by all of its child spans (including downstream services). If unset, this defaults to `DD_LLMOBS_SAMPLE_RATE`, but otherwise takes precedence over the environment variable.

`site`
: optional - _string_
<br />The Datadog site to submit your LLM data. Your site is {{< region-param key="dd_site" code="true" >}}. If not provided, this defaults to the value of `DD_SITE`.
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -258,6 +274,10 @@ const llmobs = tracer.llmobs;
: optional - _boolean_ - **default**: `false`
<br />Only required if you are not using the Datadog Agent, in which case this should be set to `true`. This configures the `dd-trace` library to not send any data that requires the Datadog Agent. If not provided, this defaults to the value of `DD_LLMOBS_AGENTLESS_ENABLED`.

`sampleRate`
: optional - _number_
<br />The fraction of traces to submit to Agent Observability, between `0.0` (drop everything) and `1.0` (submit everything). The sampling decision is made on the root span and inherited by all of its child spans (including downstream services). If unset, this defaults to `DD_LLMOBS_SAMPLE_RATE`, but otherwise takes precedence over the environment variable.

**Options for general tracer configuration**:

`site`
Expand Down
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