!!! warning "Deprecation Warning"
Beginning in NetBox v4.3, the use of inventory items has been deprecated. They are planned for removal in a future NetBox release. Users are strongly encouraged to begin using [modules](./module.md) and [module types](./moduletype.md) in place of inventory items. Modules provide enhanced functionality and can be configured with user-defined attributes.
Inventory items represent hardware components installed within a device, such as a power supply or CPU or line card. They are intended to be used primarily for inventory purposes.
Inventory items are hierarchical in nature, such that any individual item may be designated as the parent for other items. For example, an inventory item might be created to represent a line card which houses several SFP optics, each of which exists as a child item within the device. An inventory item may also be associated with a specific component within the same device. For example, you may wish to associate a transceiver with an interface.
!!! tip
Like most device components, inventory items can be instantiated automatically from [templates](./inventoryitemtemplate.md) assigned to the selected device type when a device is created.
The device in which the inventory item is installed.
The parent inventory item to which this item is assigned (optional).
The inventory item's name. If the inventory item is assigned to a parent item, its name must be unique among its siblings (all items belonging to the same parent item).
An alternative physical label identifying the inventory item.
The inventory item's operational status.
The functional role assigned to this inventory item.
The manufacturer that produced the item.
The part identification or model number assigned by the manufacturer.
The serial number assigned by the manufacturer.
A unique, locally-administered label used to identify hardware resources.