Minimum record
Keep the fields that survive a closed tab
| Field | What to write | Why it helps later |
|---|---|---|
| Checked at | Date and local time | Separates your observation from future page changes |
| Raw page | Full URL and visible title | Lets you reopen the exact evidence |
| Identity | Category, code, color, size and version | Prevents different variants from being merged |
| Visible facts | Photos, captions, measurements and names actually shown | Distinguishes observation from later claims |
| External handoff | Source URL, contact origin or responsible service | Shows who controls the next fact or action |
| Unknowns | Specific missing details that could change the decision | Creates focused questions instead of more random browsing |
| Status | Keep, compare, clarify, pause or remove | Makes the record actionable |
Example
Write a note another person could understand
Checked 2026-08-21, page publicly visible
Item structured shoulder bag, black, code BG-142
Evidence front, back, base, interior and stated 28 × 19 × 9 cm dimensions
Source album page plus a separate marketplace link showing the same code
Conflict marketplace page describes a different strap length
Unknown which strap measurement applies to the available variant
Status clarify before keeping in the final comparison
This example is useful because every conclusion points back to a page, visible detail or explicit gap. It does not label the product or seller as verified.
Evidence labels
Separate what you saw from what someone said
On the page
A title, URL, photo angle, measurement diagram or contact line you personally viewed.
Attributed statement
A price, material, stock, quality, weight or policy statement made by another party.
Reasoned connection
Your explanation of why two pages may refer to the same item, clearly marked as an inference.
Unanswered gap
A detail the available page, image or response cannot establish.
Versioning
Keep changes instead of overwriting them
Add a dated entry when a contact, link, amount, measurement or source changes. Write the old value, new value, where each appeared and whether the change affects your decision. A “last checked” date describes your review; it does not prove when the external party made the change.
Screenshots
Use images as supporting context
A screenshot may help preserve a visible state, but it can omit the hostname, page title, date, surrounding caption or destination URL. Pair it with the raw link and a short note explaining what the image supports. Avoid storing private conversations, addresses, account details or unrelated order information in a shared research sheet.
Decision line
End every record with a next action
- Keep: evidence is usable and the remaining uncertainty is acceptable for comparison.
- Compare: the record is complete enough to place beside another candidate.
- Clarify: one named answer could change the decision.
- Pause: the source or responsible party is not clear enough.
- Remove: the item is irrelevant, duplicated, conflicting or too weakly documented.