Ask Difference

Record vs. Report — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 18, 2023
A Record is a preserved account of an event or data, while a Report is a detailed account or analysis presented after gathering and reviewing information.
Record vs. Report — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Record and Report

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Key Differences

Both Record and Report relate to documenting information, but their applications vary. A Record serves as a direct capture or representation of events, data, or observations, ensuring accuracy. In contrast, a Report often represents collated or analyzed information, which might include various Records or datasets.
Taking a business context, when a transaction happens, it's entered into a Record, ensuring the date, amount, and parties involved are noted. This information can then be used to create a Report, which might analyze multiple transactions over a quarter, providing insights and trends.
In the medical field, a doctor's observation about a patient's condition is recorded in a Record. After several tests and analyses, a comprehensive Report might be generated which combines various Records, findings, and provides a diagnosis or recommendation.
Records are essential as they maintain the integrity of raw data. Without them, there's no baseline to check against. Reports, on the other hand, present this data in an organized manner, making it easier to understand, especially when dealing with large amounts of information.
To simplify, think of a Record as a snapshot at a specific moment, capturing raw data. A Report is like a photo album, compiling and sometimes interpreting various snapshots to present a bigger picture.
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Comparison Chart

Purpose

Capture and preserve events or data
Present analyzed or collated information

Nature

Raw data or direct representation
Organized, sometimes interpretative

Application

Transactions, observations, individual data entries
Business analysis, research findings, comprehensive reviews

Integrity

Maintains the original data
Might interpret or analyze data

Format

Could be logs, audio, video, written entries
Often in textual format with summaries, graphics, and analyses

Compare with Definitions

Record

A best performance or achievement in a particular activity.
She broke the world Record in the 100-meter sprint.

Report

To make or present an official or formal account of
The study reported a decline in heart disease. The audit reports that the company lost money.

Record

An act of recording data or an event.
The surveillance camera was in Record mode.

Report

A general impression or judgment.
The Report on him is that he's a diligent worker.

Record

To set down for preservation in writing or other permanent form
She recorded her thoughts in a diary.

Report

A detailed account or statement of something.
The detective filed a Report about the incident.

Record

To register or indicate
The clerk recorded the votes.

Report

A report is a document that presents information in an organized format for a specific audience and purpose. Although summaries of reports may be delivered orally, complete reports are almost always in the form of written documents.

Record

To render (sound or images) into permanent form for reproduction in a magnetic or electronic medium.

Report

A formal account of the proceedings or transactions of a group
A company's annual report.

Record

To record the words, sound, appearance, or performance of (someone or something)
Recorded the oldest townspeople on tape.
Recorded the violin concerto.

Report

A spoken or written account of an event, usually presented in detail
A news report.
Reports of children getting food poisoning.

Record

To record something.

Report

A person who is accountable or subordinate to another person within a company or organization
A manager with two reports.

Record

An account, as of information or facts, set down especially in writing as a means of preserving knowledge.

Report

Reports(Law) Bound volumes containing the published court opinions in legal cases, intended to provide a reference for precedents in subsequent cases.

Record

Something on which such an account is based.

Report

Reputation; repute
We know him only by report.

Record

Something that records
A fossil record.

Report

(Archaic) Common talk; rumor or gossip.

Record

Information or data on a particular subject collected and preserved
The coldest day on record.

Report

An explosive noise
The report of a rifle.

Record

The known history of performance, activities, or achievement
Your academic record.
Hampered by a police record.

Report

To write or provide an account or summation of for publication or broadcast
Report the news.

Record

An unsurpassed measurement
A world record in weightlifting.
A record for cold weather.

Report

To tell about the presence or occurrence of
A burglar was reported in the area.

Record

(Computers) A collection of related, often adjacent items of data, treated as a unit.

Report

To relate or tell, especially from personal experience
They reported that fallen tree limbs were blocking the road.

Record

(Law) A transcript or a collection of statements and related information reporting the proceedings of a legislative body, a court, or an executive.

Report

To submit or relate the results of considerations concerning
The committee reported the bill.

Record

A disk designed to be played on a phonograph.

Report

To carry back and repeat to another
Reported the rumor of a strike.

Record

A musical recording that is issued on a medium of some kind.

Report

To complain about or denounce
Reported the students to the principal.

Record

An item of information put into a temporary or permanent physical medium.
The person had a record of the interview so she could review her notes.
The tourist's photographs and the tape of the police call provide a record of the crime.

Report

To make a report
Would you please report on what happened?.

Record

Any instance of a physical medium on which information was put for the purpose of preserving it and making it available for future reference.
We have no record of you making this payment to us.

Report

To serve as a reporter for a publication, broadcasting company, or other news media.

Record

Ellipsis of phonograph record: a disc, usually made from vinyl, on which sound is recorded and may be replayed on a phonograph.
I still like records better than CDs.

Report

To present oneself
Report for duty.

Record

(computing) A set of data relating to a single individual or item.
Pull up the record on John Smith. What's his medical history?

Report

To be accountable or subordinate to someone
She reports directly to the board of directors.

Record

(programming) A data structure similar to a struct, in some programming languages such as C# and Java based on classes and designed for storing immutable data.

Report

(transitive) To repeat (something one has heard), to retell; to pass on, convey (a message, information etc.).

Record

9.0 in a Nutshell|year=2021|publisher=O'Reilly Media|pageurl=https://books.google.com/books?id=uUwgEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA210&dq=%22record%22+C#&hl=&cd=15&source=gbs_api#v=onepage&q=%22record%22%20C#&f=false|isbn=978-1-0981-0093-3|page=210|passage=A record is a special kind of class that's designed to work well with immutable (readonly) data.}}

Report

To take oneself (to someone or something) for guidance or support; to appeal.

Record

The most extreme known value of some variable, particularly that of an achievement in competitive events.
The heat and humidity were both new records.
The team set a new record for most points scored in a game.

Report

To notify someone of (particular intelligence, suspicions, illegality, misconduct etc.); to make notification to relevant authorities; to submit a formal report of.
For insurance reasons, I had to report the theft to the local police station.

Record

(attributive) Enough to break previous records and set a new one; world-class; extreme.

Report

(transitive) To make a formal statement, especially of complaint, about (someone).
If you do that again I'll report you to the boss.

Record

(transitive) To make a record of information.
I wanted to record every detail of what happened, for the benefit of future generations.

Report

(intransitive) To show up or appear at an appointed time; to present oneself.

Record

(transitive) To make an audio or video recording of.
Within a week they had recorded both the song and the video for it.

Report

(ambitransitive) To write news reports (for); to cover as a journalist or reporter.
Andrew Marr reports now on more in-fighting at Westminster.
Every newspaper reported the war.

Record

To give legal status to by making an official public record.
When the deed was recorded, we officially owned the house.

Report

(intransitive) To be accountable to or subordinate to (someone) in a hierarchy; to receive orders from (someone); to give official updates to (someone who is above oneself in a hierarchy).
The financial director reports to the CEO.
Now that I've been promoted, I report to Benjamin, whom I loathe.

Record

(intransitive) To fix in a medium, usually in a tangible medium.

Report

To return or present as the result of an examination or consideration of any matter officially referred.
The committee reported the bill with amendments, or reported a new bill, or reported the results of an inquiry.

Record

(intransitive) To make an audio, video, or multimedia recording.

Report

To take minutes of (a speech, the doings of a public body, etc.); to write down from the lips of a speaker.

Record

To repeat; to practice.

Report

(obsolete) To refer.

Record

To sing or repeat a tune.

Report

To return or repeat, as sound; to echo.

Record

(obsolete) To reflect; to ponder.

Report

A piece of information describing, or an account of certain events given or presented to someone, with the most common adpositions being by (referring to creator of the report) and on (referring to the subject).
A report by the telecommunications ministry on the phone network revealed a severe capacity problem.

Record

To recall to mind; to recollect; to remember; to meditate.

Report

Reputation.

Record

To repeat; to recite; to sing or play.
They longed to see the day, to hear the larkRecord her hymns, and chant her carols blest.

Report

(firearms) The sharp, loud sound from a gun or explosion.

Record

To preserve the memory of, by committing to writing, to printing, to inscription, or the like; to make note of; to write or enter in a book or on parchment, for the purpose of preserving authentic evidence of; to register; to enroll; as, to record the proceedings of a court; to record historical events.
Those things that are recorded of him . . . are written in the chronicles of the kings.

Report

An employee whose position in a corporate hierarchy is below that of a particular manager.

Record

To reflect; to ponder.
Praying all the way, and recording upon the words which he before had read.

Report

To refer.
Baldwin, his son, . . . succeeded his father; so like unto him that we report the reader to the character of King Almeric, and will spare the repeating his description.

Record

To sing or repeat a tune.
Whether the birds or she recorded best.

Report

To bring back, as an answer; to announce in return; to relate, as what has been discovered by a person sent to examine, explore, or investigate; as, a messenger reports to his employer what he has seen or ascertained; the committee reported progress.
There is no man that may reporten all.

Record

A writing by which some act or event, or a number of acts or events, is recorded; a register; as, a record of the acts of the Hebrew kings; a record of the variations of temperature during a certain time; a family record.

Report

To give an account of; to relate; to tell; to circulate publicly, as a story; as, in the common phrase, it is reported.
It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel.

Record

An official contemporaneous writing by which the acts of some public body, or public officer, are recorded; as, a record of city ordinances; the records of the receiver of taxes.

Report

To give an official account or statement of; as, a treasurer reports the receipts and expenditures.

Record

Testimony; witness; attestation.
John bare record, saying.

Report

To return or repeat, as sound; to echo.

Record

That which serves to perpetuate a knowledge of acts or events; a monument; a memorial.

Report

To return or present as the result of an examination or consideration of any matter officially referred; as, the committee reported the bill witth amendments, or reported a new bill, or reported the results of an inquiry.

Record

That which has been, or might be, recorded; the known facts in the course, progress, or duration of anything, as in the life of a public man; as, a politician with a good or a bad record.

Report

To make minutes of, as a speech, or the doings of a public body; to write down from the lips of a speaker.

Record

That which has been publicly achieved in any kind of competitive sport as recorded in some authoritative manner, as the time made by a winning horse in a race.

Report

To write an account of for publication, as in a newspaper; as, to report a public celebration or a horse race.

Record

Anything (such as a document or a phonograph record or a photograph) providing permanent evidence of or information about past events;
The film provided a valuable record of stage techniques

Report

To make a statement of the conduct of, especially in an unfavorable sense; as, to report a servant to his employer.

Record

The number of wins versus losses and ties a team has had;
At 9-0 they have the best record in their league

Report

To make a report, or response, in respect of a matter inquired of, a duty enjoined, or information expected; as, the committee will report at twelve o'clock.

Record

An extreme attainment; the best (or worst) performance ever attested (as in a sport);
He tied the Olympic record
Coffee production last year broke all previous records
Chicago set the homicide record

Report

To furnish in writing an account of a speech, the proceedings at a meeting, the particulars of an occurrence, etc., for publication.

Record

Sound recording consisting of a disc with continuous grooves; formerly used to reproduce music by rotating while a phonograph needle tracked in the grooves

Report

To present one's self, as to a superior officer, or to one to whom service is due, and to be in readiness for orders or to do service; also, to give information, as of one's address, condition, etc.; as, the officer reported to the general for duty; to report weekly by letter.

Record

The sum of recognized accomplishments;
The lawyer has a good record
The track record shows that he will be a good president

Report

That which is reported.
It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom.
Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and . . . of good report among all the nation of the Jews.

Record

A list of crimes for which an accused person has been previously convicted;
He ruled that the criminal record of the defendant could not be disclosed to the court
The prostitute had a record a mile long

Report

Sound; noise; as, the report of a pistol or cannon.

Record

A compilation of the known facts regarding something or someone;
Al Smith used to say, `Let's look at the record'
His name is in all the recordbooks

Report

Rapport; relation; connection; reference.
The corridors worse, having no report to the wings they join to.

Record

A document that can serve as legal evidence of a transaction;
They could find no record of the purchase

Report

A written document describing the findings of some individual or group;
This accords with the recent study by Hill and Dale

Record

Make a record of; set down in permanent form

Report

A short account of the news;
The report of his speech
The story was on the 11 o'clock news
The account of his speech that was given on the evening news made the governor furious

Record

Register electronically;
They recorded her singing

Report

The act of informing by verbal report;
He heard reports that they were causing trouble
By all accounts they were a happy couple

Record

Indicate a certain reading; of gauges and instruments;
The thermometer showed thirteen degrees below zero
The gauge read `empty'

Report

A sharp explosive sound (especially the sound of a gun firing);
They heard a violent report followed by silence

Record

Be aware of;
Did you register any change when I pressed the button?

Report

A written evaluation of a student's scholarship and deportment;
His father signed his report card

Record

Be or provide a memorial to a person or an event;
This sculpture commemorates the victims of the concentration camps
We memorialized the Dead

Report

An essay (especially one written as an assignment);
He got an A on his composition

Record

A preserved account of an event or data.
The library maintains a Record of all borrowed books.

Report

The general estimation that the public has for a person;
He acquired a reputation as an actor before he started writing
He was a person of bad report

Record

An item documenting proof or evidence.
The witness's statement was taken down as a Record.

Report

To give an account or representation of in words;
Discreet Italian police described it in a manner typically continental

Record

A device or medium on which data is stored.
The song was released on a vinyl Record.

Report

Announce as the result of an investigation, or announce something to the proper authorities;
Dozens of incidents of wife beatings are reported daily in this city
The team reported significant advances in their research

Report

Announce one's presence;
I report to work every day at 9 o'clock

Report

Make known to the authorities;
One student reported the other to the principal

Report

Be responsible for reporting the details of, as in journalism;
Snow reported on China in the 1950's
The cub reporter covered New York City

Report

Complain about; make a charge against;
I reported her to the superviser

Report

An official or formal statement of facts or proceedings.
The committee will release its Report next week.

Report

To provide information about an event or situation.
The journalist will Report on the election results.

Report

A loud noise, especially one produced by an explosion.
We heard a Report and then saw smoke rising.

Common Curiosities

Can a Report contain multiple Records?

Yes, a Report can compile and analyze various Records.

Can a single event have both a Record and a Report?

Yes, the event's direct capture is the Record, and its detailed account or analysis is the Report.

Does a Report always analyze data?

Not always. Some Reports just collate data without analysis.

Is a Record always in written format?

No, Records can be in audio, video, or other formats.

Can Reports be subjective?

Yes, some Reports, especially those with analyses, can include subjective interpretations.

Are Records and Reports the same?

No, a Record is raw data or event capture, while a Report is an organized presentation of data.

Are Records always factual?

Records aim to capture events or data accurately, preserving facts.

Who usually prepares Reports?

Professionals like analysts, researchers, or experts often prepare Reports.

Why are Records essential?

They ensure data integrity by preserving events or data in their original form.

Is a news article a Report?

Generally, yes. News articles Report on events, situations, or findings.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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