Export Control Classification is the process of determining whether a technology, software, equipment, or technical data is regulated under United States export control laws and, if so, what specific regulatory category applies. The classification drives what can be shared, with whom, and by what method, including restrictions on foreign nationals, international travel with controlled items, remote access, publication, and transfers to companies or collaborators abroad. It also determines whether a license, contract clause, access controls, or reporting steps are required before work proceeds.