Which term best describes documentary evidence?

• A. Testimonial Evidence
• B. Documentary Evidence
• C. Real Evidence
• D. Hearsay

Answer: (B)

Documentary evidence is evidence presented in written or recorded form, such as police reports, bank statements, emails, contracts, or photos with captions. It is distinct from testimonial evidence, which comes from spoken statements by witnesses, and from real evidence, which is a physical object involved in the case. Hearsay concerns whether out-of-court statements offered for truth are admissible, not the form of the evidence itself. When a case relies on documents or records to prove a fact, those items are best described as documentary evidence—the label matches the material type precisely and clarifies how the information is being used.