Is a purchase order considered an example of master data?

A purchase order is not considered an example of master data; it is categorized as transactional data. Master data refers to the core entities of an organization that are crucial for operations and are relatively stable, such as customers, products, suppliers, and accounts. These are the fundamental building blocks that remain consistent over time, regardless of transactions occurring in the system.

In contrast, a purchase order represents a specific transaction that occurs at a certain point in time. It is created to initiate the buying process and is associated with various details pertaining to a unique purchase, such as quantities, prices, and terms of the order. This makes it a transient record, subject to change and typically tied to specific instances of business interactions. Thus, the correct understanding is that a purchase order represents transactional data rather than master data.