[SDK] Support TracerConfigurator updates

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@ Increment the:
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+* [SDK] Add `TracerProvider::UpdateTracerConfigurator()` and example
+  [#4065](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-cpp/issues/4065)
+
 ## [1.27.0] 2026-05-13
 
 * [RELEASE] Bump main branch to 1.27.0-dev

examples/CMakeLists.txt

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ add_subdirectory(metrics_simple)
 add_subdirectory(multithreaded)
 add_subdirectory(multi_processor)
 add_subdirectory(environment_carrier)
+add_subdirectory(tracer_configurator)
 add_subdirectory(explicit_parent)
 
 if(WITH_EXAMPLES_HTTP)

examples/tracer_configurator/CMakeLists.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+# Copyright The OpenTelemetry Authors
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+add_executable(example_tracer_configurator main.cc)
+target_link_libraries(
+  example_tracer_configurator PRIVATE opentelemetry-cpp::trace
+                                      opentelemetry-cpp::ostream_span_exporter)
+
+if(BUILD_TESTING)
+  add_test(NAME examples.tracer_configurator
+           COMMAND "$<TARGET_FILE:example_tracer_configurator>")
+endif()

examples/tracer_configurator/main.cc

@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+// Copyright The OpenTelemetry Authors
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+// This example shows how to use TracerProvider::UpdateTracerConfigurator to control which
+// tracers are enabled at runtime. Updating the TracerConfigurator affects all existing and future
+// tracers provided by the TracerProvider. It is thread safe and can be called concurrently with
+// tracer and span creation.
+//
+// Two instrumentation scopes are shown:
+// 1. "my_library" (example instrumented user code),
+// 2. "external_library_foo" (example instrumented third-party dependency).
+//
+// The example simulates a debugging workflow where only the tracer configuration is changed at
+// runtime through the provider:
+//
+//   Stage 1 – Start with all tracing disabled (low-overhead production default).
+//   Stage 2 – An issue is reported. Enable only the user library traces to get an initial signal.
+//   Stage 3 – The issue involves external libraries too. Enable all traces for full visibility.
+//   Stage 4 – Investigation complete. Disable all tracing again.
+
+#include <initializer_list>
+#include <iostream>
+#include <memory>
+#include <string>
+#include <utility>
+#include <vector>
+
+#include "opentelemetry/exporters/ostream/span_exporter_factory.h"
+#include "opentelemetry/nostd/string_view.h"
+#include "opentelemetry/sdk/instrumentationscope/scope_configurator.h"
+#include "opentelemetry/sdk/resource/resource.h"
+#include "opentelemetry/sdk/trace/random_id_generator.h"
+#include "opentelemetry/sdk/trace/samplers/always_on.h"
+#include "opentelemetry/sdk/trace/simple_processor_factory.h"
+#include "opentelemetry/sdk/trace/tracer_config.h"
+#include "opentelemetry/sdk/trace/tracer_provider.h"
+#include "opentelemetry/version.h"
+
+namespace trace_sdk      = opentelemetry::sdk::trace;
+namespace trace_exporter = opentelemetry::exporter::trace;
+namespace scope_cfg      = opentelemetry::sdk::instrumentationscope;
+namespace nostd          = opentelemetry::nostd;
+
+namespace
+{
+void DoWork(opentelemetry::nostd::shared_ptr<opentelemetry::trace::Tracer> &tracer,
+            nostd::string_view tracer_name,
+            nostd::string_view operation)
+{
+  auto span = tracer->StartSpan(operation);
+  std::cout << (span->IsRecording() ? "[active] " : "[off]    ") << tracer_name << " / "
+            << operation << "\n";
+  span->End();
+}
+
+// Builds a ScopeConfigurator that enables all tracers (the default).
+std::unique_ptr<scope_cfg::ScopeConfigurator<trace_sdk::TracerConfig>> EnableAll()
+{
+  return std::make_unique<scope_cfg::ScopeConfigurator<trace_sdk::TracerConfig>>(
+      scope_cfg::ScopeConfigurator<trace_sdk::TracerConfig>::Builder(
+          trace_sdk::TracerConfig::Default())
+          .Build());
+}
+
+// Builds a ScopeConfigurator that enables only the named tracers; all others are disabled.
+std::unique_ptr<scope_cfg::ScopeConfigurator<trace_sdk::TracerConfig>> EnableOnly(
+    std::initializer_list<nostd::string_view> names)
+{
+  scope_cfg::ScopeConfigurator<trace_sdk::TracerConfig>::Builder builder(
+      trace_sdk::TracerConfig::Disabled());
+  for (nostd::string_view name : names)
+  {
+    builder.AddConditionNameEquals(name, trace_sdk::TracerConfig::Default());
+  }
+  return std::make_unique<scope_cfg::ScopeConfigurator<trace_sdk::TracerConfig>>(builder.Build());
+}
+
+// Builds a ScopeConfigurator that disables all tracers.
+std::unique_ptr<scope_cfg::ScopeConfigurator<trace_sdk::TracerConfig>> DisableAll()
+{
+  return std::make_unique<scope_cfg::ScopeConfigurator<trace_sdk::TracerConfig>>(
+      scope_cfg::ScopeConfigurator<trace_sdk::TracerConfig>::Builder(
+          trace_sdk::TracerConfig::Disabled())
+          .Build());
+}
+}  // namespace
+
+int main()
+{
+  auto exporter  = trace_exporter::OStreamSpanExporterFactory::Create();
+  auto processor = trace_sdk::SimpleSpanProcessorFactory::Create(std::move(exporter));
+
+  // Start with all tracing disabled
+  auto provider = std::make_shared<trace_sdk::TracerProvider>(
+      std::move(processor), opentelemetry::sdk::resource::Resource::Create({}),
+      std::make_unique<trace_sdk::AlwaysOnSampler>(),
+      std::make_unique<trace_sdk::RandomIdGenerator>(), DisableAll());
+
+  auto my_library_tracer           = provider->GetTracer("my_library");
+  auto external_library_foo_tracer = provider->GetTracer("external_library_foo");
+
+  // -------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  // Stage 1: all tracing disabled
+  // -------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  std::cout << "=== Stage 1: disable all (production default) ===\n";
+
+  DoWork(my_library_tracer, "my_library", "DoWork");                            // disabled
+  DoWork(external_library_foo_tracer, "external_library_foo", "FooOperation");  // disabled
+
+  // -------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  // Stage 2: enable only user library tracing
+  //
+  // EnableOnly() sets Disabled() as the default and adds explicit per-name
+  // overrides. Existing tracer handles reflect the change immediately
+  // -------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  std::cout << "\n=== Stage 2: enable only 'my_library' ===\n";
+
+  provider->UpdateTracerConfigurator(EnableOnly({"my_library"}));
+
+  DoWork(my_library_tracer, "my_library", "DoWork");                            // enabled
+  DoWork(external_library_foo_tracer, "external_library_foo", "FooOperation");  // disabled
+
+  // -------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  // Stage 3: enable tracing in all libraries
+  // -------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  std::cout << "\n=== Stage 3: enable all ===\n";
+
+  provider->UpdateTracerConfigurator(EnableAll());
+
+  DoWork(my_library_tracer, "my_library", "DoWork");                            // enabled
+  DoWork(external_library_foo_tracer, "external_library_foo", "FooOperation");  // enabled
+
+  // -------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  // Stage 4: disable all tracing again
+  // -------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  std::cout << "\n=== Stage 4: disable all ===\n";
+
+  provider->UpdateTracerConfigurator(DisableAll());
+
+  DoWork(my_library_tracer, "my_library", "DoWork");                            // disabled
+  DoWork(external_library_foo_tracer, "external_library_foo", "FooOperation");  // disabled
+
+  provider->ForceFlush();
+  provider->Shutdown();
+  return 0;
+}

sdk/include/opentelemetry/sdk/trace/tracer.h

@@ -5,9 +5,11 @@
 
 #include <stdint.h>
 
+#include <atomic>
 #include "opentelemetry/common/key_value_iterable.h"
 #include "opentelemetry/nostd/shared_ptr.h"
 #include "opentelemetry/nostd/string_view.h"
+#include "opentelemetry/sdk/common/atomic_shared_ptr.h"
 #include "opentelemetry/sdk/instrumentationscope/instrumentation_scope.h"
 #include "opentelemetry/sdk/resource/resource.h"
 #include "opentelemetry/sdk/trace/id_generator.h"
@@ -103,11 +105,25 @@ class Tracer final : public opentelemetry::trace::Tracer,
   Sampler &GetSampler() { return context_->GetSampler(); }
 
 private:
+  // TracerProvider needs access to UpdateTracerConfig to propagate configuration updates to
+  // existing tracers.
+  friend class TracerProvider;
+
+  /**
+   * Update this tracer's TracerConfig. Called only by
+   * TracerProvider::UpdateTracerConfigurator when the provider-level
+   * TracerConfigurator is replaced at runtime.
+   */
+  void UpdateTracerConfig(const TracerConfig &config) noexcept;
+
   // order of declaration is important here - instrumentation scope should destroy after
   // tracer-context.
   std::shared_ptr<InstrumentationScope> instrumentation_scope_;
   std::shared_ptr<TracerContext> context_;
-  TracerConfig tracer_config_;
+  opentelemetry::sdk::common::AtomicSharedPtr<const TracerConfig> tracer_config_;
+#if OPENTELEMETRY_ABI_VERSION_NO < 2
+  std::atomic<bool> is_enabled_;
+#endif
   static const std::shared_ptr<opentelemetry::trace::NoopTracer> kNoopTracer;
 };
 }  // namespace trace

sdk/include/opentelemetry/sdk/trace/tracer_context.h

@@ -102,6 +102,15 @@ class TracerContext
    */
   opentelemetry::sdk::trace::IdGenerator &GetIdGenerator() const noexcept;
 
+  /**
+   * Replace the TracerConfigurator for this context.
+   *
+   * Note: This method is not thread safe.
+   * @param tracer_configurator The new configurator.
+   */
+  void SetTracerConfigurator(std::unique_ptr<instrumentationscope::ScopeConfigurator<TracerConfig>>
+                                 tracer_configurator) noexcept;
+
   /**
    * Force all active SpanProcessors to flush any buffered spans
    * within the given timeout.

sdk/include/opentelemetry/sdk/trace/tracer_provider.h

@@ -109,6 +109,16 @@ class OPENTELEMETRY_EXPORT TracerProvider final : public opentelemetry::trace::T
    */
   void AddProcessor(std::unique_ptr<SpanProcessor> processor) noexcept;
 
+  /**
+   * Update the TracerConfigurator for this provider, recreate and propagate the resulting
+   * TracerConfig to all existing Tracers while new Tracers will use the updated configuration.
+   *
+   * @param tracer_configurator The new configurator.
+   */
+  void UpdateTracerConfigurator(
+      std::unique_ptr<instrumentationscope::ScopeConfigurator<TracerConfig>>
+          tracer_configurator) noexcept;
+
   /**
    * Obtain the resource associated with this tracer provider.
    * @return The resource for this tracer provider.

sdk/src/trace/tracer.cc

@@ -45,10 +45,15 @@ Tracer::Tracer(std::shared_ptr<TracerContext> context,
                std::unique_ptr<InstrumentationScope> instrumentation_scope) noexcept
     : instrumentation_scope_{std::move(instrumentation_scope)},
       context_{std::move(context)},
-      tracer_config_(context_->GetTracerConfigurator().ComputeConfig(*instrumentation_scope_))
+      tracer_config_(std::make_shared<const TracerConfig>(
+          context_->GetTracerConfigurator().ComputeConfig(*instrumentation_scope_)))
+#if OPENTELEMETRY_ABI_VERSION_NO < 2
+      ,
+      is_enabled_(tracer_config_.load()->IsEnabled())
+#endif
 {
 #if OPENTELEMETRY_ABI_VERSION_NO >= 2
-  UpdateEnabled(tracer_config_.IsEnabled());
+  UpdateEnabled(tracer_config_.load()->IsEnabled());
 #endif
 }
 
@@ -58,7 +63,12 @@ nostd::shared_ptr<opentelemetry::trace::Span> Tracer::StartSpan(
     const opentelemetry::trace::SpanContextKeyValueIterable &links,
     const opentelemetry::trace::StartSpanOptions &options) noexcept
 {
-  if (!tracer_config_.IsEnabled())
+  // Check if the tracer is enabled using the API Tracer::Enabled() accessor if available.
+#if OPENTELEMETRY_ABI_VERSION_NO >= 2
+  if (!Enabled())
+#else
+  if (!is_enabled_.load(std::memory_order_relaxed))
+#endif
   {
     return kNoopTracer->StartSpan(name, attributes, links, options);
   }
@@ -199,6 +209,18 @@ void Tracer::CloseWithMicroseconds(uint64_t timeout) noexcept
         std::chrono::microseconds{static_cast<std::chrono::microseconds::rep>(timeout)});
   }
 }
+
+void Tracer::UpdateTracerConfig(const TracerConfig &config) noexcept
+{
+  tracer_config_.store(std::make_shared<const TracerConfig>(config));
+
+#if OPENTELEMETRY_ABI_VERSION_NO >= 2
+  UpdateEnabled(config.IsEnabled());
+#else
+  is_enabled_.store(config.IsEnabled(), std::memory_order_relaxed);
+#endif
+}
+
 }  // namespace trace
 }  // namespace sdk
 OPENTELEMETRY_END_NAMESPACE

sdk/src/trace/tracer_context.cc

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include <utility>
 #include <vector>
 
+#include "opentelemetry/sdk/common/global_log_handler.h"
 #include "opentelemetry/sdk/instrumentationscope/scope_configurator.h"
 #include "opentelemetry/sdk/resource/resource.h"
 #include "opentelemetry/sdk/trace/id_generator.h"
@@ -64,6 +65,19 @@ void TracerContext::AddProcessor(std::unique_ptr<SpanProcessor> processor) noexc
   multi_processor->AddProcessor(std::move(processor));
 }
 
+void TracerContext::SetTracerConfigurator(
+    std::unique_ptr<instrumentationscope::ScopeConfigurator<TracerConfig>>
+        tracer_configurator) noexcept
+{
+  if (!tracer_configurator)
+  {
+    OTEL_INTERNAL_LOG_ERROR(
+        "[TracerContext::SetTracerConfigurator] tracer_configurator must not be null, ignoring.");
+    return;
+  }
+  tracer_configurator_ = std::move(tracer_configurator);
+}
+
 SpanProcessor &TracerContext::GetProcessor() const noexcept
 {
   return *processor_;

sdk/src/trace/tracer_provider.cc

@@ -129,6 +129,26 @@ void TracerProvider::AddProcessor(std::unique_ptr<SpanProcessor> processor) noex
   context_->AddProcessor(std::move(processor));
 }
 
+void TracerProvider::UpdateTracerConfigurator(
+    std::unique_ptr<instrumentationscope::ScopeConfigurator<TracerConfig>>
+        tracer_configurator) noexcept
+{
+  // The only way to set the TracerConfig of a tracer is on Tracer construction in
+  // TracerProvider::GetTracer or through Tracer::UpdateTracerConfig (which is private and only
+  // accessed by TracerProvider).
+  //
+  // Lock the provider mutex while updating the TracerConfiguartor in the context and setting the
+  // new TracerConfig of all existing tracers.
+  const std::lock_guard<std::mutex> guard(lock_);
+  context_->SetTracerConfigurator(std::move(tracer_configurator));
+  for (auto &tracer : tracers_)
+  {
+    auto new_config =
+        context_->GetTracerConfigurator().ComputeConfig(tracer->GetInstrumentationScope());
+    tracer->UpdateTracerConfig(new_config);
+  }
+}
+
 const resource::Resource &TracerProvider::GetResource() const noexcept
 {
   return context_->GetResource();

sdk/test/trace/BUILD

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ cc_test(
         "trace",
     ],
     deps = [
+        "//exporters/memory:in_memory_span_exporter",
         "//sdk/src/resource",
         "//sdk/src/trace",
         "@com_google_googletest//:gtest_main",