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layout: post
date: 2022-05-01
link: https://shoreline.io/blog/runbooks-vs-playbooks
title: Runbooks vs Playbooks - explaining the difference
cited: Shoreline

---

> Runbooks are best defined as a tactical method of completing a task--the series of steps needed to complete some process for a known end-goal. Examples include “Restarting the web services on frontend servers” to “Deploying the newest build of staging application”.

> A playbook, on the other hand,is a little broader. It is the culmination of those tactical processes, creating a larger plan focused on strategic action. They are a checklist of formal steps and actions. This can be anything from “Upgrading fleet-wide OS images” to “Managing a production incident." Playbooks contain actions that can be automated, but also actions that decisions that need to be made by a human.