paper trail

noun3

1. •
   A written record, history, or collection of evidence.

   • Keep a good paper trail in case anyone asks you why you arrived at that conclusion.
2. •
   Records left by a person or organization in the course of activities.

   • With a good paperwork system in place, including a working paper trail, it becomes much easier to manage the flow of relevant information regarding your plants and orders. — 2003
3. •
   Physical evidence of something that occurred in the past.

   • Even if you delete posts or your digital paper trail, the data stills ^([sic]) exists and can be retrieved later in life. — 2016