Each item belongs to an Item Category, this determines some of their properties, and which Item Slots they can be placed into at Workstations.
Persistent items are not destroyed when used for tasks. They represent your collection of knowledge and abilities.
Tool
Instrument
Data
Multiple-use items represent things which have a quantity that can be use up or durability that can be worn out.
Equipment
Artifact
Consumable items are things which are either used up when performing a task, or can be combined or transformed into new items
Material
Chemical
Biological
Sample
Part
Component
Module