Alteredby

Alteredby is a field name used in data management and software systems to indicate the user or process that last modified a record. It is commonly paired with a corresponding timestamp such as alteredon or last_modified and is part of an audit trail that records data provenance and modification history.

Origin and variants: The field is typically implemented as a string or reference, storing a user identifier, username, or email address. In some databases the canonical column name is altered_by, while in code bases that favor compact keys you may see alteredby. In JSON and API outputs it may be serialized as alteredBy to fit camelCase conventions or as altered_by to align with snake_case conventions.

Applications and scope: Alteredby appears in relational databases, document stores, content management systems, customer relationship management platforms, and versioning schemes where tracking changes is required. It typically appears alongside a timestamp and a change type, forming a simple audit trail that helps administrators understand who changed what and when. It can be populated by human users or automated processes, depending on the system and workflow.

Limitations and considerations: Privacy, access control, and data governance concerns arise because the field can reveal personal identifiers. Some implementations store an opaque user ID rather than a readable name to mitigate exposure; retention policies and deletion of PII must be considered. In data formats that support auditing, alteredby is part of metadata rather than the primary data, and its use should align with organizational compliance standards.