What does the term 'inventory' refer to?

The term 'inventory' primarily refers to a complete list of items, particularly those that are available for sale or in stock. This encompasses goods, supplies, or assets that a business holds for eventual sale or use in operations. Essentially, inventory serves as a crucial component of business operations, allowing companies to track what they have on hand and manage resources effectively.

In contrast, other options like methods of financial accounting, product categorization, or tools for inventory management represent aspects related to inventory but do not capture its fundamental meaning. While they may pertain to the management or organization of inventory, they do not define what inventory itself is in terms of an actual list of items. Therefore, recognizing 'inventory' as a comprehensive list of items helps clarify its essential role in commerce and logistics.