record

A record is an information unit that consists of related fields representing a single entity or transaction. It is the basic unit of storage in many data systems and is designed to be retrieved, updated, and managed as a whole. In relational databases, a record is commonly called a row and belongs to a table that defines the structure of its fields.

A record contains fields, each holding a specific piece of data such as a name, date, or amount. Fields have data types and constraints, and some fields may form a key that uniquely identifies the record, such as a primary key. Records can be stored as fixed-length, where every record occupies the same size, or variable-length, where field contents determine the overall size. Storage models may use delimiters, length prefixes, or pointers to manage variable-length records.

In practice, records are organized into tables or files. In a table, all records share the same structure, enabling uniform access and the use of indexes to speed retrieval by key or attribute values. Different storage approaches—flat files, relational tables, or hierarchical structures—define how records are physically arranged and navigated.

Records management is a related discipline focused on controlling the creation, use, storage, and disposal of records within an organization. It emphasizes authenticity, integrity, accessibility, and retention schedules to document business decisions and actions and to support compliance and accountability. Archival repositories may preserve permanent records for long-term access and historical value.

Beyond data, the term record also refers to artifacts like music records or other achievements; to set a record means to achieve the best known result in a given domain.