What characteristics must an item have to be used as money?

An item must have several key characteristics to function as money: it should be a medium of exchange that is widely accepted, a unit of account for measuring value, and a store of value that retains its worth over time. Additionally, it should be durable, portable, divisible for easy transactions, and fungible, meaning that individual units are interchangeable. Scarcity is also important, as a limited supply helps maintain its value.