import { Callout } from "zudoku/ui/Callout";

# Address directory

The address directory stores addresses that have already been checked, so the same address is not sent to the validation service again.

## Purpose

Every address that 365 business Address Validation checks for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, or that it takes over through address prediction, is stored as an entry in the **Address Data** table (the address directory). If the same address occurs again later, for example on a different record, 365 business Address Validation recognizes it by a hash value and does not need to send it to the service again.

## Status

Every entry in the address directory carries an **Address Validation Status**:

| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| *Not Validated* | The address is stored in the directory but has not been checked yet. |
| *Manually Checked* | A user has marked the address as correct using the **Set Validated** action. |
| *Validated* | The address was checked by the validation service, or taken over through address prediction. |

Only entries with the status *Manually Checked* or *Validated* count as known addresses (see below). An entry with the status *Not Validated* still triggers a service call the next time it is checked.

## Why known addresses do not trigger a service call

Before 365 business Address Validation calls the validation service, the app compares the address to be checked against the address directory using a hash value. If a match with the status *Manually Checked* or *Validated* is found, 365 business Address Validation applies its values unchanged as the result, without calling the validation service. This applies to automatic validation as well as to the manual **Validate Address** action. For more information on the process, see [How address validation works](how-validation-works.mdx).

<Callout type="tip" title="Load address data in advance">
Use [Initialize address data](../setup/address-data-initialization.mdx) to read the existing addresses of your company into the address directory once. Loading addresses does not check them, but it reduces the number of later service calls once individual addresses are checked.
</Callout>

## Usage

The **Usage** field shows which records currently use an address in the directory, for example one or more contacts, customers, or vendors with the same address. This lets you see at a glance whether an address applies to only a single record or to several at once.

## Prediction results count as checked

When you accept a suggestion from address prediction, 365 business Address Validation stores the selected address directly with the status *Validated* in the address directory, without calling the address validation service separately. For more information, see [Address validation and address prediction](validation-and-prediction.mdx).

## See also

- [How address validation works](how-validation-works.mdx)
- [Address validation and address prediction](validation-and-prediction.mdx)
- [Initialize address data](../setup/address-data-initialization.mdx)