# DeFi Data Freshness and Tool Limitations > Written research, build-time TVL tables and browser-fetched market snapshots have different update schedules. A retrieval time means the browser received data; it does not prove every source observation is current. Calculators model entered assumptions. Missing prices stay unavailable, and an update date does not certify that every fact was checked that day. Canonical: https://decentralized-finance.io/help/data-freshness-and-limitations/ Updated: 2026-09-30 Audience: Readers interpreting figures and dates ## Research outcome Identify what a number represents, when it was observed and what it cannot prove. ## Scope and fit These tools do not provide execution quotes, continuous alerts, guaranteed returns or a complete liquidation simulation. ## Which date am I looking at? A news publication date is when this site first published a report; its event date can be earlier. A material revision can have a separate updated date. A governance proposal remains a proposal until approval and execution are verified. Editing an explanation does not turn it into a new event. A TVL table is a build-time extract whose observation date appears with the dataset. Reloading the page does not rebuild that table. Browser market widgets request a snapshot from their source when they load. Their “retrieved” label records receipt in your browser; the upstream provider can still have delayed observations. ## What does a displayed lending APY include? The lending table shows selected DeFiLlama pools and their reported total APY. It filters by protocol and TVL, then orders the displayed pools by TVL. This is a research sample rather than a complete ranking of all available markets. A protocol name can cover multiple networks, collateral sets and market versions. Reward-token incentives and base interest can contribute differently to total APY. Incentives can expire, a reward token can lose value, and compounding assumptions can differ. Total APY is not the interest rate a borrower will necessarily pay. Compare the exact market in the source and read [APR versus APY and net yield](https://decentralized-finance.io/learn/defi-apy-vs-apr-net-yield/) before using a headline percentage. ## What can a stablecoin price tell me? A price is an aggregated market observation, not a promise to redeem a token at that price. The tracker compares a reported price with $1 for its USD-pegged selection. A small deviation does not establish reserve quality or redemption access. Missing or invalid observations are labelled unavailable, rather than assumed to be $1. Compare the intended peg, issuer, token contract, network and redemption terms. Check how liquid the exit market is for your position size. A wrapped token adds dependencies that the underlying issuer’s reserve report may not cover. The [stablecoins hub](https://decentralized-finance.io/stablecoins/) and [USDC versus USDT comparison](https://decentralized-finance.io/compare/usdc-vs-usdt/) explain the design questions. ## What do calculators leave out? The [health factor calculator](https://decentralized-finance.io/tools/health-factor-calculator/) uses entered balances and liquidation thresholds. It does not fetch your position, every oracle update, market-specific caps or all specialised liquidation rules. The [impermanent loss calculator](https://decentralized-finance.io/tools/impermanent-loss-calculator/) models a simplified 50/50 constant-product pool; concentrated-liquidity ranges require a different model. The [risk and net-yield calculator](https://decentralized-finance.io/tools/defi-risk-calculator/) compares stated rates and costs. Its output is an illustration, not a forecast. A useful sensitivity check changes collateral prices, borrowing cost and fees separately, then together. Record the assumptions alongside the result so another reader can reproduce the same model. ## What should I check before relying on a figure? Use a consistent unit and timeframe when comparing providers. Distinguish TVL from trading volume, supply APY from borrowing APR, and market capitalisation from cash available to withdraw. Do not turn a missing field into zero or copy a stale figure without its date. If a data source is unavailable, use the linked primary interface and identify the observation date yourself. A blank table is a source failure, not evidence that a market has no activity. Use the [due-diligence checklist](https://decentralized-finance.io/learn/defi-due-diligence-checklist/) and [research methodology](https://decentralized-finance.io/method/) to document remaining uncertainty. - Record the source URL and observation date. - Identify the network, token contract and exact market. - Check the definition and whether incentives or fees are included. - Confirm current permissions, collateral rules and withdrawal liquidity in primary sources. - Keep an unresolved item marked unknown until evidence supports it. ## Next steps 1. [Open market snapshots and calculators](https://decentralized-finance.io/tools/) 2. [Inspect the dated TVL extract](https://decentralized-finance.io/research/top-defi-protocols-by-tvl/) 3. [Read the research methodology](https://decentralized-finance.io/method/) Original editorial text: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Third-party material retains its own rights.