confidential

Confidential is an adjective used to describe information, communications, or relationships intended to be kept secret and accessible only to authorized individuals. The term implies an obligation to protect the information from unauthorized disclosure and to restrict its handling to those with a legitimate need to know. Confidentiality is a key component of trust in many professional, business, and personal contexts and is distinct from being secret or private.

In business and organizations, confidential information includes trade secrets, business strategies, financial data, supplier lists, and customer information. In professional settings, confidentiality governs communications such as attorney-client privilege, doctor-patient confidentiality, and therapist-client confidentiality, each with its own legal or ethical bases.

Confidential information is often protected by law or contract. Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) bind parties to protect disclosed information. Data protection and privacy laws regulate the handling of personal data, with rules on access, use, retention, and disclosure. Professionals may follow codes of ethics and standards to maintain confidentiality.

Practical measures to protect confidentiality include limiting access to authorized personnel, using secure channels and encryption, classifying data, implementing retention and destruction policies, and training employees. Organizations may audit compliance and require incident reporting for breaches.

Confidentiality may be legally or ethically overridden in certain circumstances, such as when disclosure is required by law, to prevent imminent harm, or with consent from the rightful holder; some relationships provide mandatory disclosures under court orders or regulatory requirements. Breaches can have civil, professional, or criminal consequences.