What type of journal records business transactions in chronological order?

The general journal is designed to record all business transactions in chronological order, making it the primary tool for documenting the financial activities of a business. Each entry in the general journal includes details about the transaction date, accounts affected, amounts, and a brief description. This chronological organization allows for an accurate tracking of transactions over time, which is crucial for maintaining the integrity of financial records.

Special journals, sales journals, and purchase journals each serve specific purposes and categorize transactions related to similar activities—such as sales or purchases—rather than logging every transaction chronologically. Therefore, while they are essential for streamlining certain accounting processes, they do not fulfill the general requirement of chronological record-keeping across all types of transactions as the general journal does.