What does the term 'confidential' refer to?

The term 'confidential' specifically refers to information that is intended to be kept private or secret, meaning it should not be disclosed to unauthorized individuals or entities. This can encompass various types of sensitive information, such as personal data, financial records, or proprietary business insights. Maintaining confidentiality is crucial in many professional environments to protect privacy, ensure security, and uphold trust between parties.

In this context, while public information is widely available and does not require confidentiality, mandatory documentation refers to required records that may or may not be confidential. A non-disclosure agreement is a legal contract aimed at protecting confidential information but is not itself what 'confidential' means. Rather, it serves as a mechanism to enforce confidentiality agreements. Thus, 'private or secret' is the most accurate representation of what 'confidential' denotes.