stock-taking

thumb|right|alt=Photograph of rows of shelves with boxes on them|A warehouse filled with stock

Stock-taking or "inventory checking" or "wall-to-wall" is the physical verification of the quantities and condition of items held in an inventory or warehouse. This may be done to provide an audit of existing stock. It is also the source of stock discrepancy information. While they are often used interchangeably, stock and inventory are two different things. Stock is the products sold by a business. Inventory includes all items required to make, store or sell your stock.