The core principle of double-entry bookkeeping in accounting lies in its name. Every financial transaction has two entries: a debit (recorded on the left) and a corresponding credit (recorded on the right) in different accounts. This ensures the fundamental accounting equation?assets = liabilities + equity?always balances. This built-in check for accuracy minimizes errors and makes it easier to detect inconsistencies. Imagine a giant financial seesaw: ebits weigh down one side, while credits do the same on the other. For the seesaw to remain balanced, every transaction must have equal and opposite weights.