Provenance in Workflow Systems

Provenance in workflow systems refers to the detailed record of the origin, history, and processing steps of data. It tracks where data comes from, how it’s transformed, and by whom, enabling users to understand and verify the data’s lifecycle. This transparency helps ensure data integrity, reproducibility, and accountability, especially in complex or scientific workflows. Essentially, provenance acts like a detailed audit trail that provides clarity on every stage of data handling within a system.