---
id: "mappings-transforms"
type: "concept"
title: "Mappings and transforms"
summary: "Mappings describe how source shapes become Memory content."
problem: "Ad-hoc transforms hide field provenance."
why: "Explicit mappings make validation and recovery possible."
mentalModel: "Declared mapping, not implicit guesswork."
audiences: ["developers"]
related: ["raw-records"]
---
# Mappings and transforms

Mappings describe how source shapes become Memory content.

## Problem

Ad-hoc transforms hide field provenance.

## Why

Explicit mappings make validation and recovery possible.

## Mental model

Declared mapping, not implicit guesswork.