What is the primary difference between a Template and a Contract in DocuSign CLM?

• A. A Template stores only metadata; a Contract stores all field data.
• B. A Contract is used to define templates; a Template is created from contracts.
• C. A Template defines reusable structure (fields, workflow, routing) used to create contracts; a Contract is an instance created from a template with its own data and lifecycle.
• D. A Template cannot have lifecycle; a Contract has lifecycle.

Answer: (C)

Templates provide a reusable blueprint for how a contract should be built—defining the fields, the workflow, and the routing rules that will apply. A Contract, on the other hand, is an actual document created from that blueprint, containing real values for the fields and following its own lifecycle (from draft through review, approval, and execution). In short, the template sets the structure and process, while the contract is the instantiated, data-filled item that moves through the lifecycle. This is why the correct choice describes templates as reusable structure used to create contracts, with contracts being the instantiated instances that carry specific data and lifecycle.