For various application functions, NAV uses terminology that is more akin to accounting than to traditional data processing terminology.  Some examples are as follows:

• Journal:  A table of unposted transaction entries, each of which represents an event, an entity, or an action to be processed.  There are General Ledgers for general accounting entries, Item journals for changes in inventory, and so on.
• Ledger:  A detailed history of posted transaction entries that have been processed.  For example, General Ledger, a Customer Ledger, a Vendor Ledger, an Item Ledger, and so on.  Some ledgers have subordinate detail ledgers, typically providing a greater level of quantity and/or value detail.
• Posting:  The process by which entries in a Journal are validated, and then entered into one or more ledgers.
• Batch:  A group of one or more Journal entries that were processed in one group.
• Register:  An audit trail showing a history, by Entry No. ranges, of the Journal Batches that have been posted.
• Document:  A formatted page such as an Invoice, a Purchase Order, or a Payment Cheque, typically one page for each primary transaction.

Courtesy:  David A. Studebaker and Christopher D. Studebaker