OpenTelemetry is an open-source observability framework developed by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation, designed to streamline the collection and analysis of telemetry data from distributed systems. It provides a universal format for gathering and transmitting data, making it easier for teams to monitor application health, troubleshoot issues, and gain insights into system performance. OpenTelemetry comprises several components, including APIs, SDKs, and a Collector, which work together to instrument applications, collect traces, metrics, and logs, and export this data to various backends like Prometheus and Jaeger. The framework supports a vendor-neutral approach, allowing for flexibility in integrating with different programming languages and observability tools without vendor lock-in. By adopting OpenTelemetry, organizations can enhance their observability practices, improve system insights, and reduce the need for in-house solutions, all while maintaining alignment with industry standards.