Data dictionary

Every property the API returns in version 19, what it means, and its format.

Conventions

Identifiers

Term Format Meaning
NSN 13 characters, shown as FFFF-CC-NNN-NNNN National Stock Number. FSC (4) + NIIN (9)
NIIN 9 characters National Item Identification Number. Identifies the item for life, even if its FSC changes. First 2 characters are the NCB
FSG 2 digits Federal Supply Group. First 2 digits of the FSC
FSC 4 digits Federal Supply Class. First 4 digits of the NSN
NCB 2 digits National Codification Bureau: the country that assigned the NIIN. 00 and 01 are the United States
CAGE 5 characters Commercial and Government Entity code. Identifies a company or government activity at a location
INC 5 characters Item Name Code. Identifies an approved item name
Part number text The manufacturer's or specification's number for the item. FLIS calls it a reference number

NSN record

Returned by GET /v19/nsn/{nsn} and the lookup_nsn tool. FLIS Segment A.

Property Type Meaning
nsn text NSN formatted with dashes
niin text 9-character NIIN
fsg text Federal Supply Group
fsc text Federal Supply Class. Look it up with /v19/fsc/{code}
ncb text National Codification Bureau code
itemName text Approved item name, or the part name when there is no approved name
inc text Item Name Code. Look it up with /v19/inc/{code}
fiig text Federal Item Identification Guide number: the guide used to describe this kind of item
pinc text Primary Item Name Code
niinAssignmentDate date Date the NIIN was assigned
typeOfItem text Type of Item Identification Code (TIIC): how completely the item is described. 1 full descriptive, 2 reference (part number only), 4 partial descriptive
criticality text Criticality Code. X no critical feature, C has critical features, F flight safety critical aircraft part, H nuclear hardened, M nuclear hardened and other critical features
rpdmrc text Reference or Partial Descriptive Method Reason Code: why the item is not fully described
demil text Demilitarization Code. See DEMIL codes
demilIntegrity text DEMIL Integrity Code: whether the DEMIL code has been reviewed and validated
hmic text Hazardous Material Indicator Code. N not hazardous, Y hazardous with safety data on file, P may be hazardous, no data on file
hcc text Hazardous Characteristics Code: the kind of hazard, for storage compatibility
esdc text Electrostatic Discharge and Electromagnetic Interference Code: whether the item is sensitive
pmic text Precious Metals Indicator Code: whether the item contains gold, silver, platinum family metals. A none
adpec text Automatic Data Processing Equipment Code. 0 not ADP equipment
scheduleB text U.S. Census Schedule B export classification number
hts text Harmonized Tariff Schedule number
enac text Environmental Attribute Code
iuid text Item Unique Identification indicator: whether a unique item identifier mark is required
productionLeadTimeDays number Production lead time in days
administrativeLeadTimeDays number Administrative (contracting) lead time in days
lastKnownSourceOfSupply text Routing identifier of the most recent source of supply
endItemName text Name of the end item or weapon system the part is used on
references list References. Included by default
management list Management. Only with include=management
moeRules list MOE rules. Only with include=moeRules
standardization list Standardization. Only with include=standardization
cancellations list Cancellations. Only with include=cancellations
freight list Freight. Only with include=freight
characteristics list Characteristics. Only with include=characteristics
packaging list Packaging. Only with include=packaging

DEMIL codes

Code Meaning in brief
A No demilitarization required
B Munitions List item. Mutilation required
C Munitions List item. Remove or demilitarize key points
D Munitions List item. Total destruction required
E Reserved for the DoD Demilitarization Program Office
F Munitions List item. Follow the item manager's special instructions
G Munitions List item. Ammunition and explosives
P Munitions List item. Security classified
Q Commerce Control List item

The governing text is DoD Manual 4160.28. Check it before making a disposal or export decision.

NSN summary

Returned inside search results.

Property Type Meaning
nsn, niin, fsg, fsc, itemName, inc, typeOfItem, demil, criticality Same as in the NSN record

References (Segment C)

One row per manufacturer part number or specification number recorded for the NSN.

Property Type Meaning
partNumber text The reference number, as recorded
cage text CAGE code of the company or agency that owns the number. Look it up with /v19/cage/{code}
cageStatus text Status of that CAGE record. A active, F obsolete
rncc text Reference Number Category Code: what kind of number this is. See below
rnvc text Reference Number Variation Code. 2 the number identifies the item exactly, 1 it does not identify the item by itself, 3 vendor item drawing number, 9 cancelled or obsolete, kept for information
dac text Document Availability Code: whether technical documentation for this number is available to the government
rnaac text Reference Number Action Activity Code: the activity that submitted the number
rnfc text Reference Number Format Code
rnsc text Reference Number Status Code: whether the number can be used for procurement
rnjc text Reference Number Justification Code
sadc text Service or Agency Designator Code
hcc text Hazardous Characteristics Code for this part number
msdsId text Safety data sheet identifier
historical true/false true when the reference is no longer current and is kept for history

Common rncc values:

Code Meaning
1 Source control reference
2 Definitive government specification or standard
3 Design control reference: the manufacturer's own part number. The usual "real" part number
4 Definitive government specification or standard designator
5 Secondary reference: an alternate source's number for the same item
6 Informative reference
7 Vendor item drawing reference
C Advisory reference
D Drawing reference

To find the part numbers you can buy against, start with rows where rncc is 3 or 5 and rnvc is 2.

Management (Segment H)

One row per service or agency that manages the item. Rows are newest first.

Property Type Meaning
moe text Major Organizational Entity. DA Army, DF Air Force, DN Navy, DM Marine Corps, DS Defense Logistics Agency, GP Coast Guard
usc text Using Service Code
effectiveDate date Date this management data took effect
sos text Source of Supply: routing identifier of the activity that supplies the item
sosm text Source of Supply Modifier
aac text Acquisition Advice Code: how the item is obtained. See below
qup number Quantity per Unit Pack
unitOfIssue text Unit of Issue: what one unit is. EA each, HD hundred, BX box, FT foot, and so on
unitOfIssueConversionFactor number Factor used when the unit of issue differs between services
unitPrice number Government unit price in U.S. dollars for one unit of issue. A catalog price, not a quote
slc text Shelf-Life Code. 0 does not deteriorate
ciic text Controlled Inventory Item Code: security and pilferage classification. U unclassified, J pilferable
repairabilityCode text Repairability or Recoverability Code
managementControl text Service-specific management control data

Common aac values:

Code Meaning
D Stocked and issued by the DoD integrated materiel manager
H Direct delivery from a central contract. Not stocked
J Not stocked. Centrally procured on demand
L Local purchase
V Terminal item. Remaining stock can be requisitioned
Y Terminal item. Stock exhausted
Z Insurance or numeric stockage objective item

MOE rules (Segment B)

Property Type Meaning
moeRuleNumber text Major Organizational Entity rule number: identifies the managing and using activities
amc text Acquisition Method Code. 1 and 2 suitable for competition, 3 and 4 buy from the actual manufacturer, 5 buy from the prime contractor
amsc text Acquisition Method Suffix Code: the reason for the AMC, mostly about technical data rights
nimsc text Non-consumable Item Materiel Support Code
imc text Item Management Code
imcActivity text Activity that assigned the Item Management Code
dsor text Depot Source of Repair code
supplementaryCollaborators text Other activities that collaborate on cataloging
supplementaryReceivers text Other activities that receive catalog updates
aac text Acquisition Advice Code under this rule
formerMoeRule text Previous MOE rule number
effectiveDate date Date the rule took effect

Standardization (Segment E)

Property Type Meaning
isc text Item Standardization Code: whether the item is authorized for procurement or has a preferred replacement
originator text Activity that made the standardization decision
decisionDate date Date of the decision
niinStatusCode text Status of this NIIN
relatedNsn text Related NSN for the decision
replacementNsn text NSN that replaces this item
replacementIsc text Item Standardization Code of the replacement
replacementOriginator text Activity that decided the replacement
replacementDate date Date of the replacement decision
replacementNiinStatusCode text Status of the replacement NIIN

Cancellations (Segment K)

Property Type Meaning
cancelledFsc text FSC of the cancelled or related item
cancelledNiin text NIIN of the cancelled or related item
niinStatusCode text NIIN Status Code describing the relationship
effectiveDate date Date the cancellation took effect
demil text DEMIL code of the cancelled item

Freight (Segment G)

Property Type Meaning
integrityCode text Integrity Code: reliability of the freight data
originatingActivity text Activity that supplied the freight data
railVarianceCode text Rail Variation Code
nmfc text National Motor Freight Classification item number
nmfcSub text NMFC sub-item
ufc text Uniform Freight Classification number (rail)
hmc text Hazardous Material Code for transport
ltl text Less-than-truckload class rating
waterCommodityCode text Water Commodity Code
typeOfCargo text Type of Cargo Code
specialHandling text Special Handling Code
airDimension text Air Dimension Code
airCommodityHandling text Air Commodity and Special Handling Code
classRating text Class Rating Code
description text Freight description

Characteristics (Segment M)

One row per described characteristic.

Property Type Meaning
mrc text Master Requirement Code: 4-character code for the characteristic, for example MATT
requirement text The characteristic in words, for example MATERIAL
reply text The value for this item, for example STEEL COMP 1010

Packaging (Segment W)

Property Type Meaning
sourceCode text Packaging Data Source Code
picaSica text Primary or Secondary Inventory Control Activity indicator
intermediateContainerQuantity text Unit packs per intermediate container
unitPackWeight text Unit pack weight, as coded in FLIS
unitPackSize text Unit pack length, width and depth, as coded in FLIS
unitPackCube text Unit pack cube, as coded in FLIS
packagingCategory text Packaging Category Code
itemTypeStorage text Item Type Storage Code
unpackagedItemWeight text Weight of the bare item, as coded in FLIS
unpackagedItemDimensions text Dimensions of the bare item, as coded in FLIS
methodOfPreservation text Method of Preservation Code
cleaningAndDrying text Cleaning and Drying Procedure Code
preservativeMaterial text Preservative Material Code
wrappingMaterial text Wrapping Material Code
cushioningAndDunnage text Cushioning and Dunnage Material Code
cushioningThickness text Thickness of Cushioning or Dunnage Code
unitContainer text Unit Container Code
intermediateContainer text Intermediate Container Code
unitContainerLevel text Unit Container Level Code
specialMarking text Special Marking Code
levelAPacking text Level A Packing Requirement Code
levelBPacking text Level B Packing Requirement Code
minimumPackRequirement text Minimum Packing Requirement Code
optionalProcedure text Optional Procedure Indicator
supplementalInstructions text Supplemental packaging instructions
spiNumber text Special Packaging Instruction number
spiRevision text Special Packaging Instruction revision
spiDate date Special Packaging Instruction date
containerNsn text NSN of the reusable container
packagingDesignActivity text Activity that designed the packaging

Packaging weights, sizes and cubes are returned exactly as FLIS codes them, with implied decimals. They are not converted to pounds or inches.

Part match

Returned by GET /v19/parts and the find_nsn_by_part_number tool.

Property Type Meaning
item object NSN summary of an NSN that lists the part number
matchedReferences list The reference rows that matched: partNumber, cage, rncc, rnvc, historical. Same meanings as in References

CAGE record

Returned by GET /v19/cage/{code}, GET /v19/cage and the CAGE tools.

Property Type Meaning
code text The CAGE code
name text Company or activity name
additionalNames list of text Further name lines, such as a division or "doing business as" name
status text CAGE status. A active, F obsolete
type text CAGE type code: manufacturer, distributor, government activity, and so on
associatedCage text CAGE code of a related record
replacedByCage text CAGE code that replaced this one
address object street1, street2, poBox, city, stateOrProvince, postalCode, country
businessSize text Business size code
primaryBusiness text Primary business category code
typeOfBusiness text Type of business code
womanOwned text Woman-owned business indicator
sicCodes list of text Standard Industrial Classification codes
dateEstablished text Date the CAGE record was created
lastUpdated text Date the CAGE record last changed
website text Company website, when known

FSC record

Property Type Meaning
code text 4-digit Federal Supply Class
fsg text 2-digit Federal Supply Group it belongs to
title text Class title
notes text Scope notes
includes text Examples of items the class includes
excludes text Items the class excludes

INC record

Property Type Meaning
code text 5-character Item Name Code
name text Approved item name
definition text Definition of the item name
dateEstablished date Date the name was established

Page

Search endpoints wrap their results in a page.

Property Type Meaning
total number Number of matches
totalIsLowerBound true/false true when there are more matches than total reports. Counting stops at 10,000
pageNumber number The page returned, starting at 1
pageSize number Items per page requested
items list The results for this page

Error

Property Type Meaning
error text Stable machine-readable code. See Errors and limits
message text Explanation for a person

Added 2026-11-14. Every NSN record (/v19/nsn/{nsn}), search summary and focused section answer carries links; NSN records and section answers also carry dataAsOf.

Property Type Meaning
links object Where to find this NSN
api text Path of the full record in this API, for example /v19/nsn/001234567
www text The NSN's page on www.nsnlookup.com. Cite this link when you show the data
dataAsOf object How fresh the FLIS data behind the answer is
flisCycle text FLIS (PUB LOG) release the record came from. Not held yet: always listed in notHeld
niinAssigned date Date the NIIN was assigned
documentUpdatedAt date-time (UTC) When NSN Lookup last loaded this record from FLIS
healthCheckedAt date-time (UTC) When NSN Lookup last checked the record
lastChangeLoggedAt date-time (UTC) Latest change logged for this NSN
notHeld list of text Properties NSN Lookup does not hold for this answer. They are left out of the response; never guess them

Focused sections

Added 2026-11-14. GET /v19/{section}/{nsn} returns one item; POST /v19/{section}/batch with {"nsns": [...]} returns a batch. Sections: export, weight-dims, trade-codes, repairable, photos.

Each item has nsn, niin, fsc, fsg, itemName, links, dataAsOf and the section asked for:

Property Type Meaning
export object Export screening (below)
weightDims object Weight and dimensions (below)
tradeCodes object Schedule B and HTS (below)
repairable object or true/false In an item: the repairability section (below). Inside that section: true when the item is repairable, false when it is not
photos list In an item: the photos section. Inside it: the list of photos (below)

Export screening (export)

A screening aid, not a license determination.

Property Type Meaning
demil text DEMIL code
demilIntegrityCode text DEMIL Integrity Code (DEMILI)
flag text no flag only for DEMIL A with DEMILI 1; otherwise export review required
regime text CCL/EAR for DEMIL Q; USML/ITAR for DEMIL B-G and P; left out otherwise
reason text Why the flag was given
disclaimer text Screening aid wording to show with the result

Weight and dimensions (weightDims)

From FLIS packaging data (Segment W). US units first, metric alongside.

Property Type Meaning
packaged object The FLIS unit pack (item in its packaging)
item object The item without packaging
basis text Which of the two the figures describe
weight / weightMetric measure Weight in lb / kg
length, width, height measure Size in in
lengthMetric, widthMetric, heightMetric measure Size in mm
cube / cubeMetric measure Volume in ft3 / m3
cubeCalculated true/false true when the cube was worked out from the size because FLIS gives none
value number A measure's number
unit text A measure's unit: lb, kg, in, mm, ft3, m3
unitOfIssue text Unit of issue (newest management record)
quantityPerUnitPack number Quantity per unit pack
intermediateContainerQuantity number Units in an intermediate container
source text Where the figures come from

Trade codes (tradeCodes)

Property Type Meaning
scheduleB object Schedule B (US export) code, digits only
hts object HTS (US import) code, digits only
code text The code
classifiedAt date When the code was assigned. Not held: listed in notHeld

Repairability (repairable)

Property Type Meaning
smrCode text Source, Maintenance and Recoverability code. Not held: listed in notHeld
errc list Expendability, Recoverability, Repairability Category codes by service
service text The service that assigned the code, for example Air Force
meaning text What the code means
basis text Which code repairable was worked out from

Photos (photos)

Photos taken by NSN Lookup. Link to them; do not re-host them.

Property Type Meaning
id text Photo id
primary true/false The main photo
displayOrder number Order to show them in, starting at 1
watermarked true/false true: the image carries the NSN Lookup watermark
url text 600 px image on www.nsnlookup.com
urlSmall text 300 px image on www.nsnlookup.com
originalUrl text Internal keys only
comment text Internal keys only

Batch

Property Type Meaning
nsns list of text Request body: the NSNs or NIINs to look up. Your plan sets how many per request
notFound list of text Inputs that are valid NSNs but not in the catalog
invalid list of text Inputs that are not NSNs or NIINs
meta object About the request
plan text Your plan
requested number How many inputs were sent
returned number How many items came back
dailyNsnsUsed number Distinct NSNs returned to your key today (UTC)
dailyNsnsCap number Your plan's daily distinct-NSN limit. Left out when there is none