ANSI NCITS 256 defines a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) standard for item management. This standard is intended to allow for compatibility and to encourage interoperability of products for the growing RFID market in the United States. Since U.S. FCC regulations do not restrict physical configuration options, this standard is an enabling standard which supports and promotes several RFID implementations without making conclusions about the relative technical merits of any available option for any possible application. This standard defines a single Application Programming Interface (API), which serves as a unifying platform shared by all compliant RFID implementations and provide a common interface to application programs. This common API helps to encourage widespread manufacturer competition and subsequent market expansion while the market for RFID for item management becomes established. Includes erratum dated April 2000.