What is a chain of custody

A chain of custody is a legal term used to refer to the chronological documentation or paper trail that records the sequence of custody, control, transfer, analysis, and disposition of physical or electronic evidence. Every step in the chain of custody must be documented and stored so that any court of law will recognize the validity of the evidence presented. The chain of custody ensures that all evidence collected and stored is done correctly and that it is not tampered with or compromised in any way.