---
title: Parts
---

## Part

The *Part* is the core element of the InvenTree ecosystem. A Part object is the archetype of any stock item in your inventory. Parts are arranged in hierarchical categories which are used to organise and filter parts by function.

## Part Category

Part categories are very flexible and can be easily arranged to match a particular user requirement. Each part category displays a list of all parts *under* that given category. This means that any part belonging to a particular category, or belonging to a sub-category, will be displayed.

Each part category also shows a list of sub-categories which exist underneath it.

{% with id="part_category", url="part/part_category.png", description="Parts are arranged in categories" %}
{% include 'img.html' %}
{% endwith %}

The category part list provides an overview of each part:

* Part name and description
* Part image thumbnail
* Part category
* Part stock level

The list of parts underneath a given category can be filtered by multiple user-configurable filters, which is especially useful when a large number of parts exist under a certain category.

Clicking on the part name links to the [*Part Detail*](./views.md) view.

## Part Attributes

Each *Part* defined in the database provides a number of different attributes which determine how that part can be used. Configuring these attributes for a given part will impact the available functions that can be perform on (or using) that part).

### Virtual

A *Virtual* part is one which does not physically exist but should still be tracked in the system. This could be a process step, machine time, software license, etc.

### Template

A *Template* part is one which can have *variants* which exist underneath it. [Read further information about template parts here](./template.md).

### Assembly

If a part is designated as an *Assembly* it can be created (or built) from other component parts. As an example, a circuit board assembly is made using multiple electronic components, which are tracked in the system. An *Assembly* Part has a Bill of Materials (BOM) which lists all the required sub-components. [Read further information about BOM management here](../build/bom.md).

### Component

If a part is designated as a *Component* it can be used as a sub-component of an *Assembly*. [Read further information about BOM management here](../build/bom.md)

### Trackable

Trackable parts can be assigned batch numbers or serial numbers which uniquely identify a particular stock item. Trackable parts also provide other features (and restrictions) in the InvenTree ecosystem.

[Read further information about trackable parts here](./trackable.md).

### Purchaseable

If a part is designated as *Purchaseable* it can be purchased from external suppliers. Setting this flag allows parts be linked to supplier parts and procured via purchase orders.

#### Suppliers

A [Supplier](../order/company.md#suppliers) is an external vendor who provides goods or services.

#### Supplier Parts

Purchaseable parts can be linked to [Supplier Parts](../order/company.md#supplier-parts). A supplier part represents an individual piece or unit that is procured from an external vendor.

#### Purchase Orders

A [Purchase Order](../order/purchase_order.md) allows parts to be ordered from an external supplier.

### Salable

If a part is designated as *Salable* it can be sold to external customers. Setting this flag allows parts to be added to sales orders.

### Active

By default, all parts are *Active*. Marking a part as inactive means it is not available for many actions, but the part remains in the database. If a part becomes obsolete, it is recommended that it is marked as inactive, rather than deleting it from the database.

## Units of Measure

Each type of part can define a custom "unit of measure" which is a standardized unit which is used to track quantities for a particular part. By default, the "unit of measure" for each part is blank, which means that each part is tracked in dimensionless quantities of "pieces".

### Physical Units

It is possible to track parts using physical quantity values, such as *metres* or *litres*. For example, it would make sense to track a "wire" in units of "metres":

{% with id="part_units", url="part/part_units.png", description="Parts units" %}
{% include 'img.html' %}
{% endwith %}

### Supplier Part Units

By default, units of measure for [supplier parts](../order/company.md#supplier-parts) are specified in the same unit as their base part. However, supplier part units can be changed to any unit *which is compatible with the base unit*.

!!! info "Example: Supplier Part Units"
    If the base part has a unit of `metres` then valid units for any supplier parts would include `feet`, `cm`, `inches` (etc)

If an incompatible unit type is specified, an error will be displayed:

{% with id="part_units_invalid", url="part/part_units_invalid.png", description="Invalid supplier part units" %}
{% include 'img.html' %}
{% endwith %}

## Part Images

Each part can have an associated image, which is used for display purposes throughout the InvenTree interface. A prominent example is on the part detail page itself:

{% with id="part_image", url="part/part_image_example.png", description="Part image example" %}
{% include 'img.html' %}
{% endwith %}

### Image Thumbnails

Thumbnail images are also used throughout the interface, particularly in table views, to reduce data load on the server. These thumbnail images are generated automatically when a new part image is uploaded.

### Uploading Part Image

#### Web Interface

In the web interface, part images can be uploaded directly from the [part view](./views.md). Hover the mouse cursor over the Part image to reveal multiple options:

{% with id="part_image_uplaod", url="part/part_image_upload.png", description="Upload part image" %}
{% include 'img.html' %}
{% endwith %}

| Action | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Upload new image | Select an image file from your local computer to associate with the selected part |
| Select from existing images | Select an image from a list of part images which already exist in the database |
| Delete image | Remove the associated image from the selected part |

#### API

Image upload is supported via the [InvenTree API](../api/api.md), allowing images to be associated with parts programmatically. Further, this means that the [Python interface](../api/python/python.md) also supports image upload.

#### Mobile App

The [InvenTree mobile app](../app/part.md#part-image-view) allows part images to be directly uploaded, either from stored files or integrated camera.

## Part Import

*Parts* can be imported by staff-members on the part-list-view (this feature must be enabled in the part-settings), in the part-settings or on the [admin-page for parts](../settings/import.md) (only accessible if you are also an admin). The first two options provide a multi-stage wizard that enables mapping fields from various spreadsheet or table-data formats while the latter requires a well-formatted file but is much more performant.
