white paper
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authoritative report that provides information about a specific issue
A white paper is an authoritative report that thoroughly explains a specific issue, providing detailed information and analysis on the topic. It matters because it helps people understand complex subjects by offering credible, in-depth information from experts or organizations with relevant knowledge.
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A white paper is an informative report that explains a complex issue and presents the sponsor's philosophy on the matter. These documents are meant to help readers understand an issue, solve a problem, or make a decision.
The term originated early in the 20th century to mean a type of position paper or industry report published by a department of the UK government. Earlier forms of these reports were called "command papers."