{
  "id": "dwd_qtwdi2p5",
  "type": "term",
  "slug": "master-data",
  "title": "Master data",
  "summary": "The single trusted version of a core business entity such as a customer, product or account.",
  "status": "draft",
  "classification": "public",
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Shan Umasankar",
      "url": "https://dealwithdata.com",
      "role": "author"
    }
  ],
  "assisted_by": [
    "Claude"
  ],
  "scales": [
    "personal",
    "business",
    "enterprise"
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    "golden record"
  ],
  "related": [
    "dwd_wg5zzqg2"
  ],
  "created": "2026-10-07",
  "updated": "2026-10-07",
  "version": 1,
  "url": "https://dealwithdata.com/glossary/master-data/",
  "markdown_url": "https://dealwithdata.com/glossary/master-data.md",
  "body_markdown": "Master data management produces one golden record for each core entity by matching and merging copies from many systems. It answers *which* customer, while [[reference-data]] answers *which code*.\n\n**Example:** five systems hold variations of the same customer; master data resolves them to Customer #123.\n"
}