Many tables include a status field or state-identifying switch. These fields are used to track the state transition of a system entity. The system often keys processing or validation off of these status fields. Usually records are added in an initial state, and over time the state changes, eventually reaching some final status. Think of a service agreement moving from Pending Start to Active to Pending Stop to Stopped to Closed. Records that store data related to system entities controlled by state should generally not be archived or purged unless the system entity is in a final status.
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