Causal Knowledge Cutoff (Calculation as-of): Definition

Definitions

In plain terms

A causal cutoff asks what the system was genuinely allowed to know at a chosen time, so later corrections cannot leak backward into an earlier decision.

Technical

The calculation retains only evidence whose availability timestamp is at or before the declared cutoff, then resolves eligible revisions before updating any dependent state.

Scope

This is a Fintech Builder point-in-time processing contract; it does not assert that every published indicator vendor exposes equivalent availability metadata.

Examples

A correction released on Tuesday is excluded from a calculation whose knowledge cutoff was Monday's close.

Common misconceptions

Using a historical session date does not by itself prevent later information from leaking into the result.

Concept relationships

Required by

Where this concept is used

Evidence and governance

Fintech Builder Glossary Definition Contract The Fintech Builder · internal governed contract
Supports: short definition, technical definition, variant distinction
Limits: Defines governed platform behavior rather than claiming these policies are universally prescribed by external McClellan methodology.

Reviewed by: fintech-builder-owner-approved
Last reviewed: 2026-07-26
Next review: 2027-07-26
Record status: published

Causal Knowledge Cutoff