A **configuration item** (**CI**) is any component that needs to be managed in order to deliver an [[IT service management|IT service]], as recorded in a [[Configuration management database|configuration management database]] (CMDB). Configuration items can represent [[Hardware (computing)|hardware]], [[Software|software]], [[Documentation|documentation]], [[Service-level agreement|service-level agreements]], personnel, or any other entity that is relevant to the [[IT infrastructure|IT infrastructure]] and its services. The concept is central to [[Configuration management|configuration management]], a core process within the [[ITIL|ITIL]] framework and other [[IT service management|IT service management]] (ITSM) methodologies. Each configuration item is defined by a set of [[Attribute (computing)|attributes]] that describe its characteristics—such as type, owner, version, and status—and by its [[Dependency (computing)|relationships]] with other CIs. These relationships form a map of the IT environment that enables organizations to understand how changes to one component may affect others, supporting critical processes including [[Change management (ITSM)|change management]], [[Incident management (ITSM)|incident management]], and [[Impact analysis|impact analysis]]. For example, a CI representing a [[Database server|database server]] might have relationships to the [[Application software|applications]] it supports, the [[Operating system|operating system]] it runs, and the [[Business service management|business services]] that depend on it. The scope and granularity of configuration items vary depending on organizational needs and CMDB maturity. In practice, CIs may range from individual [[Hard disk drive|disk drives]] and [[Software license|software licenses]] to entire [[Application software|application systems]] and [[Cloud computing|cloud service]] subscriptions. Frameworks such as ITIL and [[ServiceNow]]'s [[Common Service Data Model|Common Service Data Model]] (CSDM) provide guidance on how to classify and organize CIs to ensure consistency and support effective [[IT governance|IT governance]]. Maintaining accurate and up-to-date CI data is widely regarded as essential for reliable service delivery, though organizations frequently face challenges related to [[Data quality|data quality]], [[Configuration management database#Discovery|discovery automation]], and ongoing lifecycle management of CI records.