evidential value

n. the usefulness of records that provides information about the origins, functions, and activities of their creators DiplomaticsLawthe quality or authenticity of a record to provide legal or historical proof or adequate evidence

Notes

In its first and still primary sense, evidential value1 relates to the ability of records to document the functions of an organization or any other creator of records. In this sense, it is distinguished from informational value, which is the overall usefulness of the content of the records. In recent decades, particularly in that body of archives literature focused on diplomatics and ensuring the trustworthiness of digital records, the term has come to be used essentially synonymously with evidentiary value, the importance of information presented in evidence, particularly if done so in the course of some legal matter.