Difference between | rest and | metadata?

[splunkreal]

Hello,

could you tell me what is the difference between results from | rest and | metadata when trying to find, for example, latest event time per index?

Thanks.

[goodsellt]

The rest command is designed as a caller out to the REST endpoints, if you're more comfortable using those for some queries. The metadata command is designed to look at the underlying indexed metadata for the events. Any searches you run designed to produce the same output should contain identical results since the data you're going after isn't any different, the only difference is the mode of access you're having Splunk use.