EffectiveFrom

EffectiveFrom is a date field used in data models and business systems to indicate when a record, rule, or policy becomes valid or active. It marks the starting point of the item’s applicability, after which its associated attributes or behaviors are in effect.

Common uses include pricing, contracts, employee records, product catalogs, and regulatory rules. In data warehousing and analytics, EffectiveFrom is often paired with an ending point such as EffectiveTo or ValidTo to define a time interval during which the data is considered current. In slowly changing dimensions, a new record may be created with a new EffectiveFrom value when a change occurs, preserving historical accuracy.

Semantics and data design considerations vary. EffectiveFrom is typically stored as a date or timestamp, depending on whether time of day matters. Time zone handling is important when records cross regions. Some systems treat EffectiveFrom as inclusive (the date is valid on that day) or exclusive (valid from the next day); explicit conventions should be documented. Null values may indicate that an item is always effective, but explicit ranges are generally preferred to avoid ambiguity.

Practical design tips include ensuring clear ordering with EffectiveFrom, validating that intervals do not overlap for the same entity unless intended, and indexing the field for query performance. EffectiveFrom often sits alongside an EndDate field to support historical queries, policy rollbacks, and audit trails.

See also: EffectiveDate, ValidFrom, FromDate, ToDate, SCD2.