# Metric Start Time Processor

<!-- llms-txt-link: /llms.txt -->

> OpenTelemetry Collector processor · contrib distribution

The Metric Start Time Processor (`metric_start_time`) is used to set the start time for metric points with a cumulative aggregation temporality. It is commonly used with the `prometheus` receiver, which usually produces metric points without a start time.

- **Component ID**: `contrib-metricstarttimeprocessor`
- **Name**: `metricstarttimeprocessor`
- **Type**: processor
- **Distribution**: contrib
- **Repository**: `opentelemetry-collector-contrib`

## Stability

| Level | Signals |
| --- | --- |
| beta | metrics |

## Data

- **JSON**: [/data/collector/components/contrib-metricstarttimeprocessor/contrib-metricstarttimeprocessor-925d654d347c.json](/data/collector/components/contrib-metricstarttimeprocessor/contrib-metricstarttimeprocessor-925d654d347c.json)
- **Explore**: [/collector/components/contrib/metricstarttimeprocessor](/collector/components/contrib/metricstarttimeprocessor)