General Ledger
Accounting glossary · Understand, connect, apply
The general ledger is the collection of an entity’s main accounts, including assets, liabilities, equity, revenue and expenses.
Example
All entries affecting Cash are brought together in the Cash ledger account so its balance can be calculated.
Remember the difference
A customer subsidiary ledger gives individual customer detail; its total should reconcile with the general-ledger control account.
Updated 3 November 2026. Examples are simplified for learning. Where a term depends on US law, IFRS, US GAAP or a historical rule, check the context explained above and the requirements relevant to your course.
Study references: OpenStax financial accounting and managerial accounting. For reporting requirements, consult the applicable IFRS Standards or FASB guidance. US tax terms should be checked against the relevant tax-year IRS instructions.
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