---
title: Monitor live data
slug: solutions/topic-registry/monitor
description: Watch live topic messages in a chart or table.
createdAt: 2025-06-06T05:41:24.337Z
---

Watch messages from one topic in the browser.

## Start a live stream

1. Open a topic from **Explore** or the global search bar.
2. Select **Live Stream**.
3. Select **Start Streaming**.
4. Confirm that messages appear while the source publishes to the topic.
5. Select **Stop Streaming** when you finish.

The page displays numeric values in a chart and messages in a table. A connected stream with no messages does not prove that the source is publishing.

The live display uses a bounded buffer. Use a historian when you need a retained measurement history.

## Read the stream

Numeric values appear in a chart. Use the chart to see how a value changes while the source publishes.

![Numeric topic values displayed as a time series](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/SSUUxKZUk9bFTEPNn_6Zo/LOHdiPaElbLm-Ste7NRBN-20261110-034729.png)

Messages with structured values appear in a table with their timestamps.

![Live message table showing timestamps and structured values](https://cdn.images.archbee.com/SSUUxKZUk9bFTEPNn_6Zo/jQ8xb4c6Gc7UT0nwFa0tO_image.png?format=webp)

Expand a message to inspect its complete payload.

![Expanded live message showing its JSON payload](https://cdn.images.archbee.com/SSUUxKZUk9bFTEPNn_6Zo/t_URtYQsQ87KdMThXVD_z_image.png?format=webp)

## What's next

See [REST API reference](docId:4LVzTh5VKjHMsZ1wrd31G) to retrieve values or open a server-sent event stream from another application.