Data provenance describes the documented history of a dataset, including its origin, who or what created it, and the changes it has undergone over time. It provides evidence about how data was collected, processed, combined, or modified, helping users judge whether the information is trustworthy and suitable for a particular purpose.
In scientific research, for instance, provenance records can connect published results to the original measurements, processing methods, and dataset versions used in the analysis. This supports reproducibility and makes questionable transformations easier to investigate. Unlike data lineage, which emphasizes data movement, provenance focuses more broadly on data’s history and authenticity. Related concepts include metadata, data lineage, audit trails, and data governance.
