A guidance document is a written piece that provides information, advice or recommendations on how to perform a specific task, follow a procedure or achieve a particular outcome. It can be issued by an authority such as a government agency, professional organization or regulatory body and is intended to help individuals or organizations understand and comply with rules, standards or best practices in a given area. Guidance documents may take the form of manuals, handbooks, protocols, white papers or other types of publications that offer clear and concise instructions on how to proceed in a particular situation. They are often used as reference materials by professionals in various fields such as medicine, engineering, finance, education, etc., to ensure compliance with established standards and to promote consistent and effective practices.