{
  "canonicalUrl": "https://xn--mwe.com/glossary/principal/",
  "claimStatus": "RESEARCH FINDING",
  "code": "K01-TERM-055",
  "correctionStatus": "CURRENT K05 RELEASE",
  "definition": "An entity whose authority, interests, resources or legal position an agent may represent or affect.",
  "lastReviewed": "2026-08-16",
  "name": "Principal",
  "not": "A principal is not automatically the same as the software process, operator, owner, credential holder or beneficiary.",
  "plain": "The party for whom an agent acts, subject to a defined mandate.",
  "relatedTermCodes": [
    "K01-TERM-004",
    "K01-TERM-005",
    "K01-TERM-007",
    "K01-TERM-008",
    "K01-TERM-049",
    "K01-TERM-056",
    "K01-TERM-138"
  ],
  "releaseId": "K12-2026-08-16",
  "researchCutoff": "2026-08-16",
  "slug": "principal",
  "sourceRevalidatedAt": "2026-08-15T23:00:00Z",
  "status": "RESEARCH FINDING",
  "topic": "agency-autonomy",
  "type": "DefinedTerm"
}