LastModifiedBy

LastModifiedBy is a metadata field that records the identity of the user who last changed a particular item, record, or document. It is used for auditing and accountability in many systems such as content management systems, databases, and applications.

The field typically stores a user identifier—such as a username, user ID, or a foreign key to a users table—and is often used together with a corresponding LastModifiedDate to form an audit trail. Field naming varies by platform, with common variants including lastModifiedBy, LastModifiedBy, ModifiedBy, or similar.

Common contexts include SharePoint’s Modified By column, database tables with a last_modified_by column, and APIs that expose entity history. In various systems, the exact field name and data type can differ, but the concept remains the same: a pointer to the last user who altered the item.

Population methods vary: the value is usually set automatically by the application when a change is saved, by database triggers, or through an ORM. If changes are performed by a system account or automated process, the value may reflect that entity or be set to a system user.

Implications include providing accountability, aiding troubleshooting, and supporting governance and compliance. Privacy considerations apply, as the data reveals user activity; organizations may implement access controls or anonymization where appropriate.

Best practices include storing a stable user reference, updating the field on every modification, and indexing the field for efficient queries. It is also advisable to document the exact semantics (for example, whether edits by system accounts are recorded as a specific value).