Standing rigging holds the mast up and stays put. Shrouds run from the mast to the sides of the boat. Stays run fore and aft, the forestay to the bow and the backstay to the stern. Each ends in a terminal, usually a swage, and a turnbuckle down to a chainplate.
Most is stainless wire. Some performance boats use rod, which Yachting Monthly notes has a shorter life and gives no warning before it fails. Running rigging, the halyards and sheets you pull, is a separate thing.
What a surveyor checks
The age first, from receipts and riggers' invoices. Yachting Monthly notes insurers generally recommend replacement every 10 years, and SAIL reports most insurers expect it about then. Then each wire for broken strands and rust, each terminal for cracks, and each turnbuckle for bends and missing split pins. The top of the rig needs binoculars or a climb, and the report says how far up was seen.
In the report
Give the rig's age and how it's known. "Standing rigging, stainless wire, age unknown, no records. Owner reports original. Recommend a rigger's inspection, and replacement if over 10 years." See standing rigging age.