diff --git a/packages/arcgis-rest-common-types/src/group.ts b/packages/arcgis-rest-common-types/src/group.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1bf122fa00
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/arcgis-rest-common-types/src/group.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+/* Copyright (c) 2018 Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc.
+ * Apache-2.0 */
+
+/**
+ * A [Group](https://developers.arcgis.com/rest/users-groups-and-items/common-parameters.htm) that has not been created yet.
+ */
+export interface IGroupAdd {
+  title: string;
+  owner?: string;
+  tags?: string[];
+  description?: string;
+  access?: "private" | "org" | "public";
+  phone?: string;
+  sortField?:
+    | "title"
+    | "owner"
+    | "avgrating"
+    | "numviews"
+    | "created"
+    | "modified";
+  sortOrder?: "asc" | "desc";
+  isViewOnly?: boolean;
+  isInvitationOnly?: boolean;
+  thumbnail?: string;
+  autoJoin?: boolean;
+  snippet?: string;
+  [key: string]: any;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Existing Portal [Group](https://developers.arcgis.com/rest/users-groups-and-items/group.htm).
+ */
+export interface IGroup extends IGroupAdd {
+  id: string;
+  owner: string;
+  tags: string[];
+  created: number;
+  modified: number;
+  protected: boolean;
+  isInvitationOnly: boolean;
+  isViewOnly: boolean;
+  isOpenData: boolean;
+  isFav: boolean;
+  autoJoin: boolean;
+  userMembership?: {
+    username?: string;
+    memberType?: string;
+    applications?: number;
+  };
+  hasCategorySchema?: boolean;
+}
diff --git a/packages/arcgis-rest-common-types/src/index.ts b/packages/arcgis-rest-common-types/src/index.ts
index 859c9d20ca..36d3366be7 100644
--- a/packages/arcgis-rest-common-types/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/arcgis-rest-common-types/src/index.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
-/* Copyright (c) 2017 Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc.
+/* Copyright (c) 2017-2018 Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc.
  * Apache-2.0 */
 
+import { IGroup } from "./group";
+
 export * from "./webmap";
+export * from "./item";
+export * from "./group";
 
 /**
  * an arc can be represented as a JSON curve object
@@ -180,28 +184,6 @@ export interface IFont {
   decoration?: "line-through" | "underline" | "none";
 }
 
-/**
- * Portal Item
- */
-export interface IItem {
-  id?: string;
-  owner?: string;
-  title?: string;
-  type?: string;
-  tags?: string[];
-  typeKeywords?: string[];
-  description?: string;
-  snippet?: string;
-  documentation?: string;
-  extent?: number[][];
-  categories?: string[];
-  spatialReference?: any;
-  culture?: string;
-  properties?: any;
-  url?: string;
-  [key: string]: any;
-}
-
 /**
  *
  */
@@ -476,31 +458,6 @@ export interface IUser {
   provider?: "arcgis" | "enterprise" | "facebook" | "google";
 }
 
-export interface IGroup extends IItem {
-  isInvitationOnly?: boolean;
-  phone?: string;
-  sortField?:
-    | "title"
-    | "owner"
-    | "avgrating"
-    | "numviews"
-    | "created"
-    | "modified";
-  isViewOnly?: boolean;
-  isFav?: boolean;
-  access?: "private" | "org" | "public";
-  userMembership?: {
-    username?: string;
-    memberType?: string;
-    applications?: number;
-  };
-  protected?: boolean;
-  autoJoin?: boolean;
-  hasCategorySchema?: boolean;
-  isOpenData?: boolean;
-  [key: string]: any;
-}
-
 export type esriUnits =
   | "esriSRUnit_Meter"
   | "esriSRUnit_StatuteMile"
diff --git a/packages/arcgis-rest-common-types/src/item.ts b/packages/arcgis-rest-common-types/src/item.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8a44cdfaef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/arcgis-rest-common-types/src/item.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+/* Copyright (c) 2018 Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc.
+ * Apache-2.0 */
+
+import { ISpatialReference } from "./index";
+
+/**
+ * A Portal [Item](https://developers.arcgis.com/rest/users-groups-and-items/common-parameters.htm) that has not been created yet.
+ */
+export interface IItemAdd {
+  title: string;
+  type: string;
+  owner?: string;
+  typeKeywords?: string[];
+  description?: string;
+  snippet?: string;
+  documentation?: string;
+  extent?: number[][];
+  categories?: string[];
+  spatialReference?: ISpatialReference;
+  culture?: string;
+  properties?: any;
+  url?: string;
+  tags?: string[];
+  [key: string]: any;
+}
+
+/**
+ * A Portal [Item](https://developers.arcgis.com/rest/users-groups-and-items/common-parameters.htm) to be updated.
+ */
+export interface IItemUpdate {
+  id: string;
+  [key: string]: any;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Existing Portal [Item](https://developers.arcgis.com/rest/users-groups-and-items/item.htm).
+ */
+export interface IItem extends IItemAdd {
+  id: string;
+  owner: string;
+  tags: string[];
+  created: number;
+  modified: number;
+  protected: boolean;
+}
diff --git a/packages/arcgis-rest-groups/src/groups.ts b/packages/arcgis-rest-groups/src/groups.ts
index b37f8e3eb3..7416ddf1d0 100644
--- a/packages/arcgis-rest-groups/src/groups.ts
+++ b/packages/arcgis-rest-groups/src/groups.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
-/* Copyright (c) 2017 Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc.
+/* Copyright (c) 2017-2018 Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc.
  * Apache-2.0 */
+
 import {
   request,
   IRequestOptions,
@@ -7,7 +8,13 @@ import {
   getPortalUrl
 } from "@esri/arcgis-rest-request";
 
-import { IPagingParams, IItem, IGroup } from "@esri/arcgis-rest-common-types";
+import {
+  IPagingParams,
+  IItem,
+  IItemUpdate,
+  IGroupAdd,
+  IGroup
+} from "@esri/arcgis-rest-common-types";
 
 export interface IPagingParamsRequestOptions extends IRequestOptions {
   paging: IPagingParams;
@@ -17,8 +24,12 @@ export interface IGroupIdRequestOptions extends IRequestOptions {
   id: string;
 }
 
-export interface IGroupRequestOptions extends IRequestOptions {
-  group: IGroup;
+export interface IGroupAddRequestOptions extends IRequestOptions {
+  group: IGroupAdd;
+}
+
+export interface IGroupUpdateRequestOptions extends IRequestOptions {
+  group: IItemUpdate;
 }
 
 export interface IGroupSearchRequest extends IPagingParams {
@@ -156,21 +167,6 @@ export function getGroupUsers(
   return request(url, options);
 }
 
-/**
- * Serialize a group into a json format accepted by the Portal API
- * for create and update operations
- *
- * @param group IGroup to be serialized
- * @returns a formatted JSON object to be sent to Portal
- */
-function serializeGroup(group: IGroup): any {
-  // create a clone so we're not messing with the original
-  const clone = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(group));
-  // join and tags...
-  clone.tags = clone.tags.join(", ");
-  return clone;
-}
-
 /**
  * Create a new Group.
  * Note: The group name must be unique within the user's organization.
@@ -178,10 +174,10 @@ function serializeGroup(group: IGroup): any {
  * @returns A Promise that will resolve with the success/failure status of the request
  */
 export function createGroup(
-  requestOptions: IGroupRequestOptions
+  requestOptions: IGroupAddRequestOptions
 ): Promise<any> {
   const url = `${getPortalUrl(requestOptions)}/community/createGroup`;
-  const options: IGroupRequestOptions = {
+  const options: IGroupAddRequestOptions = {
     ...requestOptions
   };
   // serialize the group into something Portal will accept
@@ -195,13 +191,13 @@ export function createGroup(
  * @returns A Promise that will resolve with the success/failure status of the request
  */
 export function updateGroup(
-  requestOptions: IGroupRequestOptions
+  requestOptions: IGroupUpdateRequestOptions
 ): Promise<any> {
   const url = `${getPortalUrl(requestOptions)}/community/groups/${
     requestOptions.group.id
   }/update`;
 
-  const options: IGroupRequestOptions = {
+  const options: IGroupUpdateRequestOptions = {
     ...requestOptions
   };
   // serialize the group into something Portal will accept
@@ -259,3 +255,18 @@ export function unprotectGroup(
   };
   return request(url, options);
 }
+
+/**
+ * Serialize a group into a json format accepted by the Portal API
+ * for create and update operations
+ *
+ * @param group IGroup to be serialized
+ * @returns a formatted JSON object to be sent to Portal
+ */
+function serializeGroup(group: IGroupAdd | IItemUpdate | IGroup): any {
+  // create a clone so we're not messing with the original
+  const clone = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(group));
+  // join and tags...
+  clone.tags = clone.tags.join(", ");
+  return clone;
+}
diff --git a/packages/arcgis-rest-groups/test/mocks/responses.ts b/packages/arcgis-rest-groups/test/mocks/responses.ts
index fede9c0668..03f3af6ca2 100644
--- a/packages/arcgis-rest-groups/test/mocks/responses.ts
+++ b/packages/arcgis-rest-groups/test/mocks/responses.ts
@@ -130,7 +130,8 @@ export const GroupContentResponse: IGroupContentResult = {
       avgRating: 0,
       numViews: 1301,
       groupCategories: [],
-      scoreCompleteness: 50
+      scoreCompleteness: 50,
+      protected: false
     }
   ]
 };
diff --git a/packages/arcgis-rest-items/src/items.ts b/packages/arcgis-rest-items/src/items.ts
index ec234a1ee2..41f2556cda 100644
--- a/packages/arcgis-rest-items/src/items.ts
+++ b/packages/arcgis-rest-items/src/items.ts
@@ -1,23 +1,20 @@
-/* Copyright (c) 2017 Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc.
+/* Copyright (c) 2017-2018 Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc.
  * Apache-2.0 */
+
 import {
   request,
   IRequestOptions,
   getPortalUrl
 } from "@esri/arcgis-rest-request";
 
-import { IItem, IPagingParams } from "@esri/arcgis-rest-common-types";
-
+import {
+  IItemAdd,
+  IItemUpdate,
+  IItem,
+  IPagingParams
+} from "@esri/arcgis-rest-common-types";
 import { IUserRequestOptions } from "@esri/arcgis-rest-auth";
 
-export interface IItemRequestOptions extends IUserRequestOptions {
-  item: IItem;
-}
-
-// * @param id - Item Id
-// * @param owner - Item owner username
-// * @param data - Javascript object to store
-
 export interface IItemIdRequestOptions extends IUserRequestOptions {
   /**
    * Unique identifier of the item.
@@ -49,7 +46,6 @@ export interface IItemResourceRequestOptions extends IItemIdRequestOptions {
 }
 
 export interface IItemCrudRequestOptions extends IUserRequestOptions {
-  item: IItem;
   /**
    * The owner of the item. If this property is not present, `item.owner` will be passed, or lastly `authentication.username`.
    */
@@ -60,12 +56,18 @@ export interface IItemCrudRequestOptions extends IUserRequestOptions {
   folder?: string;
 }
 
+export interface IItemAddRequestOptions extends IItemCrudRequestOptions {
+  item: IItemAdd;
+}
+
+export interface IItemUpdateRequestOptions extends IItemCrudRequestOptions {
+  item: IItemUpdate;
+}
+
 // this interface still needs to be docced
 export interface ISearchRequest extends IPagingParams {
   q: string;
   [key: string]: any;
-  // start: number;
-  // num: number;
 }
 
 export interface ISearchRequestOptions extends IRequestOptions {
@@ -131,12 +133,10 @@ export function searchItems(
  * @param requestOptions = Options for the request
  */
 export function createItemInFolder(
-  requestOptions: IItemCrudRequestOptions
+  requestOptions: IItemAddRequestOptions
 ): Promise<any> {
-  const owner =
-    requestOptions.owner ||
-    requestOptions.item.owner ||
-    requestOptions.authentication.username;
+  const owner = determineOwner(requestOptions);
+
   const baseUrl = `${getPortalUrl(requestOptions)}/content/users/${owner}`;
   let url = `${baseUrl}/addItem`;
 
@@ -156,16 +156,28 @@ export function createItemInFolder(
 /**
  * Create an Item in the user's root folder
  *
+ * ```js
+ * import { createItem } from '@esri/arcgis-rest-items';
+ *
+ * createItem({
+ *   authentication: userSession,
+ *   item: {
+ *     title: "The Amazing Voyage",
+ *     type: "Webmap"
+ *   }
+ * })
+ * ```
+ *
  * @param requestOptions - Options for the request
  */
 export function createItem(
-  requestOptions: IItemCrudRequestOptions
+  requestOptions: IItemAddRequestOptions
 ): Promise<any> {
   // delegate to createItemInFolder placing in the root of the filestore
   const options = {
     folder: null,
     ...requestOptions
-  } as IItemCrudRequestOptions;
+  } as IItemAddRequestOptions;
   return createItemInFolder(options);
 }
 
@@ -177,8 +189,7 @@ export function createItem(
 export function addItemJsonData(
   requestOptions: IItemJsonDataRequestOptions
 ): Promise<any> {
-  const owner = requestOptions.owner || requestOptions.authentication.username;
-
+  const owner = determineOwner(requestOptions);
   const url = `${getPortalUrl(requestOptions)}/content/users/${owner}/items/${
     requestOptions.id
   }/update`;
@@ -239,14 +250,29 @@ export function getItemData(
 /**
  * Update an Item
  *
+ * * ```js
+ * import { updateItem } from '@esri/arcgis-rest-items';
+ *
+ * updateItem({
+ *   authentication: userSession,
+ *   item: {
+ *     id: "3ef",
+ *     description: "A three hour tour"
+ *   }
+ * })
+ * ```
+ *
  * @param item - The item to update.
  * @param requestOptions - Options for the request.
  * @returns A Promise that resolves with the status of the operation.
  */
-export function updateItem(requestOptions: IItemRequestOptions): Promise<any> {
-  const url = `${getPortalUrl(requestOptions)}/content/users/${
-    requestOptions.item.owner
-  }/items/${requestOptions.item.id}/update`;
+export function updateItem(
+  requestOptions: IItemUpdateRequestOptions
+): Promise<any> {
+  const owner = determineOwner(requestOptions);
+  const url = `${getPortalUrl(requestOptions)}/content/users/${owner}/items/${
+    requestOptions.item.id
+  }/update`;
 
   // serialize the item into something Portal will accept
   requestOptions.params = {
@@ -260,13 +286,23 @@ export function updateItem(requestOptions: IItemRequestOptions): Promise<any> {
 /**
  * Remove an item from the portal
  *
+ * *
+ * ```js
+ * import { removeItem } from '@esri/arcgis-rest-items';
+ *
+ * removeItem({
+ *   authentication: userSession,
+ *   id: "3ef"
+ * })
+ * ```
+ *
  * @param requestOptions - Options for the request
  * @returns A Promise that deletes an item.
  */
 export function removeItem(
   requestOptions: IItemIdRequestOptions
 ): Promise<any> {
-  const owner = requestOptions.owner || requestOptions.authentication.username;
+  const owner = determineOwner(requestOptions);
   const url = `${getPortalUrl(requestOptions)}/content/users/${owner}/items/${
     requestOptions.id
   }/delete`;
@@ -282,7 +318,7 @@ export function removeItem(
 export function protectItem(
   requestOptions: IItemIdRequestOptions
 ): Promise<any> {
-  const owner = requestOptions.owner || requestOptions.authentication.username;
+  const owner = determineOwner(requestOptions);
   const url = `${getPortalUrl(requestOptions)}/content/users/${owner}/items/${
     requestOptions.id
   }/protect`;
@@ -298,7 +334,7 @@ export function protectItem(
 export function unprotectItem(
   requestOptions: IItemIdRequestOptions
 ): Promise<any> {
-  const owner = requestOptions.owner || requestOptions.authentication.username;
+  const owner = determineOwner(requestOptions);
   const url = `${getPortalUrl(requestOptions)}/content/users/${owner}/items/${
     requestOptions.id
   }/unprotect`;
@@ -336,7 +372,7 @@ export function getItemResources(
 export function updateItemResource(
   requestOptions: IItemResourceRequestOptions
 ): Promise<any> {
-  const owner = requestOptions.owner || requestOptions.authentication.username;
+  const owner = determineOwner(requestOptions);
   const url = `${getPortalUrl(requestOptions)}/content/users/${owner}/items/${
     requestOptions.id
   }/updateResources`;
@@ -360,7 +396,7 @@ export function updateItemResource(
 export function removeItemResource(
   requestOptions: IItemResourceRequestOptions
 ): Promise<any> {
-  const owner = requestOptions.owner || requestOptions.authentication.username;
+  const owner = determineOwner(requestOptions);
   const url = `${getPortalUrl(requestOptions)}/content/users/${owner}/items/${
     requestOptions.id
   }/removeResources`;
@@ -380,11 +416,11 @@ export function removeItemResource(
  * @param item IItem to be serialized
  * @returns a formatted json object to be sent to Portal
  */
-function serializeItem(item: IItem): any {
+function serializeItem(item: IItemAdd | IItemUpdate | IItem): any {
   // create a clone so we're not messing with the original
   const clone = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(item));
   // join keywords and tags...
-  const { typeKeywords=[], tags=[] } = item;
+  const { typeKeywords = [], tags = [] } = item;
   clone.typeKeywords = typeKeywords.join(", ");
   clone.tags = tags.join(", ");
   // convert .data to .text
@@ -398,3 +434,17 @@ function serializeItem(item: IItem): any {
   }
   return clone;
 }
+
+/**
+ * requestOptions.owner is given priority, requestOptions.item.owner will be checked next. If neither are present, authentication.username will be assumed.
+ */
+function determineOwner(requestOptions: any): string {
+  if (requestOptions.owner) {
+    return requestOptions.owner;
+  }
+  if (requestOptions.item && requestOptions.item.owner) {
+    return requestOptions.item.owner;
+  } else {
+    return requestOptions.authentication.username;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/arcgis-rest-items/test/mocks/item.ts b/packages/arcgis-rest-items/test/mocks/item.ts
index 11377a2196..37bd12b11f 100644
--- a/packages/arcgis-rest-items/test/mocks/item.ts
+++ b/packages/arcgis-rest-items/test/mocks/item.ts
@@ -16,7 +16,10 @@ export const ItemResponse: IItem = {
   typeKeywords: ["Javascript", "hubSiteApplication"],
   properties: {
     parentId: "3eb"
-  }
+  },
+  created: 123,
+  modified: 456,
+  protected: false
 };
 
 export const ItemDataResponse: any = {
diff --git a/packages/arcgis-rest-items/test/mocks/search.ts b/packages/arcgis-rest-items/test/mocks/search.ts
index c55f754b5e..9faf97c325 100644
--- a/packages/arcgis-rest-items/test/mocks/search.ts
+++ b/packages/arcgis-rest-items/test/mocks/search.ts
@@ -53,7 +53,8 @@ export const SearchResponse: ISearchResult = {
       numComments: 0,
       numRatings: 0,
       avgRating: 0,
-      numViews: 4
+      numViews: 4,
+      protected: false
     }
   ]
 };
diff --git a/packages/arcgis-rest-users/test/mocks/responses.ts b/packages/arcgis-rest-users/test/mocks/responses.ts
index 8df8b4346e..11954501c3 100644
--- a/packages/arcgis-rest-users/test/mocks/responses.ts
+++ b/packages/arcgis-rest-users/test/mocks/responses.ts
@@ -65,7 +65,12 @@ export const GroupMemberUserResponse: IUser = {
         username: "jsmith",
         memberType: "user",
         applications: 0
-      }
+      },
+      protected: false,
+      isViewOnly: false,
+      isFav: false,
+      isOpenData: true,
+      autoJoin: false
     }
   ]
 };
@@ -91,7 +96,12 @@ export const GroupNonMemberUserResponse: IUser = {
         username: "jsmith",
         memberType: "user",
         applications: 0
-      }
+      },
+      protected: false,
+      isViewOnly: false,
+      isFav: false,
+      isOpenData: true,
+      autoJoin: false
     }
   ]
 };
@@ -117,7 +127,12 @@ export const GroupAdminUserResponse = {
         username: "jsmith",
         memberType: "admin",
         applications: 0
-      }
+      },
+      protected: false,
+      isViewOnly: false,
+      isFav: false,
+      isOpenData: true,
+      autoJoin: false
     }
   ]
 };
@@ -144,7 +159,12 @@ export const OrgAdminUserResponse = {
         username: "jsmith",
         memberType: "owner",
         applications: 0
-      }
+      },
+      protected: false,
+      isViewOnly: false,
+      isFav: false,
+      isOpenData: true,
+      autoJoin: false
     }
   ]
 };