In plain language
It tells an integration where each piece of incoming information belongs and how it should be transformed.
Example
The form field “Work email” maps to the CRM field contact.email, while country names map to two-letter codes.
Related terms
Payload · Formatter · Integration
Common misconception
Matching fields with similar labels is not sufficient; their formats, meanings, allowed values, and update rules must also agree.
Implementation guidance
Maintain a field-level mapping document, include types and null behavior, transform values explicitly, and test realistic edge cases.