What is the difference between "history" and "log"?

Solution 1:

The word log originated from its usage in 'Ship Log Book', which originally referred to the book for recording readings from the 'Chip Log' (apparatus containing an actual wooden log, giving it the name).

The usage of word log thus is more accurate when used for maintaining well defined records in a more or less scientific way to potentially derive specific information in the future like ship's speed or investigating issues in computer software.

A log does captures historical information but lacks narrative and is generally very specific in its scope.

In computer science it makes sense to use the word log because computer logs keep track of well defined(and formatted in most instances) events and related information.

I hope this helps.

Solution 2:

A log is a series of time-data pairs. A history usually purports to be more comprehensive and explanatory with regards to cause and effect than a simple sequential series of timestamped information.

For instance, the log book kept by any individual ship in the Battle of Trafalgar would not purport to be a history of that battle.

Computer science uses the term log because log files contain data, written sequentially. They do not contain analytical conclusions based on that data.