SourceDefined

SourceDefined is a term used in information systems to describe an approach in which the source of a data item or configuration is explicitly defined and treated as the authoritative reference. In this approach, the origin of data is not inferred or derived by downstream processes; instead it is declared and preserved throughout the lifecycle.

Core concepts include provenance metadata, immutable source identifiers, and enforceable links between a data item and its origin. A SourceDefined design records the source as part of the data object, supports traceability from the source to each derived artifact, and uses the source as the single point of truth for validation and reproduction.

Applications span data pipelines and ETL, software configuration management, content management and digital media, and research workflows. In each case, records carry provenance tags and reference their origin, enabling precise auditing, reproducibility, and governance.

Benefits include improved auditability, reproducibility, governance, compliance, and greater trust in automated decisions. By reducing ambiguity about data origins, SourceDefined supports error diagnosis and regulatory reporting.

Challenges include managing provenance metadata at scale, potential performance overhead, versioning of sources, privacy concerns, and ensuring ongoing accessibility and integrity of sources. Adoption requires clear standards for metadata schemas, lineage models, and governance policies.

See also: data provenance, source of truth, metadata, lineage.