Formalize the overflow and cardinality limit interaction (#3912)

open-telemetry · Mar 1, 2024 · 64f2340 · 64f2340
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diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ release.
 
 - Remove implementation specific specification from metric API.
   ([#3890](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-specification/pull/3890))
+- Formalize the interaction between cardinality limit and overflow attribute.
+  ([#3912](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-specification/pull/3912))
 
 ### Logs
 

diff --git a/specification/metrics/sdk.md b/specification/metrics/sdk.md
@@ -759,9 +759,9 @@ independently aggregated because of the limit.
 
 The SDK MUST create an Aggregator with the overflow attribute set
 prior to reaching the cardinality limit and use it to aggregate events
-for which the correct Aggregator could not be created.  The maximum
-number of distinct, non-overflow attributes is one less than the
-limit, as a result.
+for which the correct Aggregator could not be created.  The SDK MUST provide the
+guarantee that overflow would not happen if the maximum number of distinct,
+non-overflow attribute sets is less than or equal to the limit.
 
 #### Synchronous instrument cardinality limits