Citems

Citems is a term used in some digital environments to describe items whose defining properties are configurable rather than fixed. In many games, simulations, or inventory frameworks, a Citem represents an object that carries metadata describing its type, attributes, appearance, ownership, and current state, and that can be created, modified, or traded within the system. The use and exact meaning of Citem vary by project, and it is not a standardized concept across industries.

Origins of the term are informal, arising in game design and modding communities in the 2010s. "C" is commonly understood as configurable, though some projects use it to indicate collection or composite items. The notion emphasizes flexibility and reusability over a single fixed asset.

Key characteristics include a unique identifier, a set of attributes (stats, effects, visuals), and metadata that governs serialization and persistence. Citems typically rely on templates or archetypes and support parameterized variants. They may include lifecycle states such as crafted, equipped, or consumed, and can be subject to rarity or ownership rules.

In practice, Citems enable rapid prototyping of item systems and economies. Designers can define a base template and generate many variants by adjusting parameters, rather than creating separate assets for each item. This approach supports balance testing, inventory management, and dynamic content generation.

See also: Collectible item, Configurable item, Item template, Inventory system, Procedural generation.