> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.mangrovesystems.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# 1.1: Core Concepts & the Data Lifecycle

> Understand the lifecycle of carbon data and the main Mangrove components: Events, Datapoints, Models, Batches, Ledgers, and Reports.

<Panel>
  <Card title="Accounting Academy" className="accounting-academy-card">
    <div className="accounting-academy-content">
      <Steps className="my-0">
        <Step title="MODULE 1: Fundamentals" icon="bookmark" iconType="solid" stepNumber={1} titleSize="p">
          * [1.1: Core Concepts & the Data Lifecycle](/accounting-academy/module-1/1-1-core-concepts-data-lifecycle)
          * [1.2: Translating Methodologies to Mangrove](/accounting-academy/module-1/1-2-translating-methodologies-to-mangrove)
          * [1.3: Events and Datapoints](/accounting-academy/module-1/1-3-events-and-datapoints)
          * [Exercise: Design and Build](/accounting-academy/module-1/1-exercise-design-and-build)
        </Step>

        <Step title="MODULE 2: Calculations" icon="bookmark" iconType="solid" stepNumber={2} titleSize="p">
          * [2.1: Calculation Architecture](/accounting-academy/module-2/2-1-calculation-architecture)
          * [2.2: Expanding Your Data Model](/accounting-academy/module-2/2-2-expanding-your-data-model)
          * [Exercise: Multi-Step Calculations](/accounting-academy/module-2/2-exercise-multi-step-calculations)
        </Step>

        <Step title="MODULE 3: Batch Partitioning & LCA" icon="bookmark" iconType="solid" stepNumber={3} titleSize="p">
          * [3.1: What Is a Batch?](/accounting-academy/module-3/3-1-what-is-a-batch)
          * [3.2: Batch Partitioning Strategies](/accounting-academy/module-3/3-2-batch-partitioning)
          * [3.3: Life Cycle Assessment & Emissions](/accounting-academy/module-3/3-3-lca-and-emissions)
          * [3.4: Allocating Emissions to Batches](/accounting-academy/module-3/3-4-allocating-emissions-to-batches)
          * [Exercise: Batch Partitioning & LCA](/accounting-academy/module-3/3-exercise-batch-partitioning-and-lca)
        </Step>

        <Step title="MODULE 4: Mass Balance with Ledgers" icon="bookmark" iconType="solid" stepNumber={4} titleSize="p">
          * [4.1: Introduction to Mass Balance](/accounting-academy/module-4/4-1-intro-to-mass-balance)
          * [4.2: Designing the Ledger Structure](/accounting-academy/module-4/4-2-designing-the-ledger-structure)
          * [4.3: Multiple Batch Types for Different Stages](/accounting-academy/module-4/4-3-multiple-batch-types)
          * [Exercise: Design & Build Mass Balance](/accounting-academy/module-4/4-exercise-design-and-build-mass-balance)
        </Step>

        <Step title="MODULE 5: Integration Testing" icon="bookmark" iconType="solid" stepNumber={5} titleSize="p">
          * [5.1: The Complete Model Assembly](/accounting-academy/module-5/5-1-the-complete-model-assembly)
          * [5.2: Testing Patterns](/accounting-academy/module-5/5-2-testing-patterns)
          * [5.3: Common Integration Pitfalls](/accounting-academy/module-5/5-3-common-integration-pitfalls)
          * [Exercise: Integration Testing](/accounting-academy/module-5/5-exercise-integration-testing)
        </Step>

        <Step title="MODULE 6: Advanced Patterns & Production" icon="bookmark" iconType="solid" stepNumber={6} titleSize="p">
          * [6.1: Model Design Best Practices](/accounting-academy/module-6/6-1-model-design-best-practices)
          * [6.2: Advanced Techniques](/accounting-academy/module-6/6-2-advanced-techniques)
          * [6.3: Production Readiness](/accounting-academy/module-6/6-3-production-readiness)
          * [Exercise: Production Deployment](/accounting-academy/module-6/6-exercise-production-deployment)
        </Step>
      </Steps>
    </div>
  </Card>
</Panel>

<Check>
  **What you'll learn in this lesson:**

  * Describe the 4 stages of the carbon data lifecycle (collection, processing, verification, issuance)
  * Identify the 8 core Mangrove components (defined in Production Accounting and Reporting Fundamentals)
  * Explain how data flows from operational activity to verified credits
</Check>

This lesson introduces the end-to-end flow of carbon data in Mangrove and the core components you will use to build production accounting.

## The lifecycle of carbon data

Carbon data in Mangrove follows a clear path from operational activity to verified credits.

```mermaid theme={null}
flowchart LR
    A["Collection"] --> B["Processing"]
    B --> C["Verification"]
    C --> D["Issuance"]
```

### Collection

**Collection** is the first stage — operational data is gathered from across the project boundary and brought into Mangrove.

Projects aggregate datapoints from many sources:

* Meters and sensors
* Manual entry and spreadsheets
* Integrated systems via <a href="/production-accounting/data-inputs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">data inputs</a>

  and ingestion pathways

<Tip>
  The data parameters you need to collect are defined by your production and quantification models and often align with the monitoring tables in your carbon methodology.
</Tip>

**Examples:** feedstock quantities, energy usage, sequestration rates, transportation distances, baseline or calibration data.

### Processing

**Processing** is where raw data becomes production accounting. Aggregated data is run through a <a href="/production-accounting/accounting-101" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">data flow of production and quantification models</a> to generate calculated outputs and production <a href="/production-accounting/generate-batches" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">batches</a>.

Each batch contains:

* The calculations and MRV data supporting that batch's carbon activity
* Links to source data inputs and evidence

**Production models** handle operational calculations. **Quantification models** apply LCA and methodology-specific logic to produce net carbon accounting. Together, they form a digital version of your methodology.

### Verification

**Verification** is where a third-party auditor reviews the project's submission. In Mangrove, <a href="/reporting/fundamentals" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reporting</a> produces structured reports that meet value stream and registry requirements.

### Issuance

**Issuance** is when a registry reviews the verified report and issues credits to the project's inventory. Mangrove supports <a href="/inventory/fundamentals" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">credit inventory management</a> so you can track forecasts and issued credits in one place.

## Mangrove components

The lifecycle is implemented through a set of core components.

```mermaid theme={null}
flowchart TB
    P["Project"] --- EV["Events"]
    EV --- ED["Evidence"]
    EV --- DP["Datapoints"]
    DP --- BA
    ED --- BA
    P["Project"] --- LE["Ledgers"]
    LE --- BA["Batches"]
    P --- ME["Methodology"]
    ME --- MO["Models"]
    MO -.- BA["Batches"]
    BA --- RE["Reports"]
    RE -.- AU["Audit"]
    AU -.- IS["Issuance"]
    RE --- IS["Issuance"]
    style P fill:#e3f2fd
    style EV fill:#e3f2fd
    style BA fill:#e3f2fd
    style RE fill:#e3f2fd
```

The diagram shows how **Projects**, **Events**, **Datapoints**, **Evidence**, **Models**, **Batches**, and **Ledgers** support production accounting, and how **Reports** carry results through verification to issuance. For full definitions, take a moment to go through <a href="/production-accounting/fundamentals" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Production Accounting Fundamentals</a> (Project, Event, Datapoint, Evidence, Model, Batch, Ledger) and <a href="/reporting/fundamentals" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Reporting Fundamentals</a> (Report and the verification-to-issuance flow).

***

### Check your understanding

<Accordion icon="circle-question" title="What are the 4 stages of the carbon data lifecycle?">
  **Collection → Processing → Verification → Issuance.** Raw operational data is collected, processed through models to generate batches, verified by a third party, and then credits are issued to inventory.
</Accordion>

<Accordion icon="circle-question" title="Which component is the 'main unit of production' in Mangrove?">
  The **Batch**. See [Production Accounting Fundamentals](/production-accounting/fundamentals#batch) for the full definition.
</Accordion>

<Accordion icon="circle-question" title="What is the difference between production models and quantification models?">
  **Production models** handle operational calculations; **quantification models** apply methodology-specific carbon accounting. See [Production Accounting Fundamentals](/production-accounting/fundamentals#model) for full definitions.
</Accordion>

***

In the next lesson you will see how methodology concepts (activity data, emission factors, quantification equations) map onto these components.