[[search-aggregations-pipeline-serialdiff-aggregation]]
=== Serial differencing aggregation
++++
<titleabbrev>Serial differencing</titleabbrev>
++++

Serial differencing is a technique where values in a time series are subtracted from itself at
different time lags or periods. For example, the datapoint f(x) = f(x~t~) - f(x~t-n~), where n is the period being used.

A period of 1 is equivalent to a derivative with no time normalization: it is simply the change from one point to the
next. Single periods are useful for removing constant, linear trends.

Single periods are also useful for transforming data into a stationary series. In this example, the Dow Jones is
plotted over ~250 days. The raw data is not stationary, which would make it difficult to use with some techniques.

By calculating the first-difference, we de-trend the data (e.g. remove a constant, linear trend). We can see that the
data becomes a stationary series (e.g. the first difference is randomly distributed around zero, and doesn't seem to
exhibit any pattern/behavior). The transformation reveals that the dataset is following a random-walk; the value is the
previous value +/- a random amount. This insight allows selection of further tools for analysis.

[[serialdiff_dow]]
.Dow Jones plotted and made stationary with first-differencing
image::images/pipeline_serialdiff/dow.png[]

Larger periods can be used to remove seasonal / cyclic behavior. In this example, a population of lemmings was
synthetically generated with a sine wave + constant linear trend + random noise. The sine wave has a period of 30 days.

The first-difference removes the constant trend, leaving just a sine wave. The 30th-difference is then applied to the
first-difference to remove the cyclic behavior, leaving a stationary series which is amenable to other analysis.

[[serialdiff_lemmings]]
.Lemmings data plotted made stationary with 1st and 30th difference
image::images/pipeline_serialdiff/lemmings.png[]



==== Syntax

A `serial_diff` aggregation looks like this in isolation:

[source,js]
--------------------------------------------------
{
  "serial_diff": {
    "buckets_path": "the_sum",
    "lag": 7
  }
}
--------------------------------------------------
// NOTCONSOLE

[[serial-diff-params]]
.`serial_diff` Parameters
[options="header"]
|===
|Parameter Name |Description |Required |Default Value
|`buckets_path` |Path to the metric of interest (see <<buckets-path-syntax, `buckets_path` Syntax>> for more details |Required |
|`lag` |The historical bucket to subtract from the current value. E.g. a lag of 7 will subtract the current value from
 the value 7 buckets ago. Must be a positive, non-zero integer |Optional |`1`
|`gap_policy` |Determines what should happen when a gap in the data is encountered. |Optional |`insert_zero`
|`format` |Format to apply to the output value of this aggregation |Optional | `null`
|===

`serial_diff` aggregations must be embedded inside of a `histogram` or `date_histogram` aggregation:

[source,console]
--------------------------------------------------
POST /_search
{
   "size": 0,
   "aggs": {
      "my_date_histo": {                  <1>
         "date_histogram": {
            "field": "timestamp",
            "calendar_interval": "day"
         },
         "aggs": {
            "the_sum": {
               "sum": {
                  "field": "lemmings"     <2>
               }
            },
            "thirtieth_difference": {
               "serial_diff": {                <3>
                  "buckets_path": "the_sum",
                  "lag" : 30
               }
            }
         }
      }
   }
}
--------------------------------------------------

<1> A `date_histogram` named "my_date_histo" is constructed on the "timestamp" field, with one-day intervals
<2> A `sum` metric is used to calculate the sum of a field. This could be any metric (sum, min, max, etc)
<3> Finally, we specify a `serial_diff` aggregation which uses "the_sum" metric as its input.

Serial differences are built by first specifying a `histogram` or `date_histogram` over a field. You can then optionally
add normal metrics, such as a `sum`, inside of that histogram. Finally, the `serial_diff` is embedded inside the histogram.
The `buckets_path` parameter is then used to "point" at one of the sibling metrics inside of the histogram (see
<<buckets-path-syntax>> for a description of the syntax for `buckets_path`.
