Which data-integrity principle ensures data remains consistent across steps and systems?

• A. Accuracy
• B. Completeness
• C. Consistency
• D. Traceability

Answer: (C)

Consistency is the data-integrity principle that keeps information uniform as it moves through steps and across systems. It means once a value is established, all related representations reflect that same value and updates cascade to every place that relies on it. This prevents contradictions like a customer’s address or order status showing different results in different systems, ensuring the data stays coherent when processes interact or when data is synchronized between databases, services, or modules.

Accuracy focuses on whether the data values themselves are correct; completeness is about having all required fields present; and traceability is about knowing where data came from and how it has changed over time. While important, those aspects don’t by themselves guarantee uniformity across multiple systems, which is what consistency specifically ensures.