Is sys_id unique across all the instances globally?

Suggy
Giga Sage

I have few questions regarding sys_id.

 

1. Is sys_id unique per table or unique per instance or unique GLOBALLY across ALL the instances spinned up until now for all the customers world wide?

 

2. Suppose I create a user record, say its sys_id is "123". Later I will delete the record. Then can ServiceNow generate and use "123" again for new record?

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION

Maddysunil
Kilo Sage

@Suggy 

In ServiceNow:

  1. Uniqueness of sys_id:

    • The sys_id is globally unique across all tables and instances of ServiceNow.
    • Each record in a ServiceNow table is identified by a unique sys_id.
    • This uniqueness is maintained globally across all instances of ServiceNow, regardless of the customer.
  2. Recycling sys_id:

    • Once a record with a specific sys_id, like "123", is deleted, ServiceNow will not reuse that sys_id for a new record.
    • ServiceNow does not recycle sys_id values. Even if a record is deleted, its sys_id is not reused for new records.
    • This ensures that historical references and relationships within the platform remain intact and consistent.

Please Mark Correct if this solves your query and also mark 👍Helpful if you find my response worthy based on the impact.

 

Thanks

 
 
 
 
 

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7 REPLIES 7

Tony Chatfield1
Kilo Patron

Hi, a sys_id is a GUID and so is unique to the instance that it was created in.

Unique record identifier (sys_id) (servicenow.com)

As a unique identifier I would not expect a sys_id to be reused for a different record.

Hi @Tony Chatfield1 

So is it UNIQUE across ALL instances world wide?

A sys_id is unique and so if you generate one in an instance then it is expected that the same sys_id will not be generated by any other instance.

But, the same sys_id's can exists in multiple instances and normally these are default ServiceNow records or from store apps. Any customization you make that is moved to another instance (via update-set or clone) will also result in duplicate sys_id's, but these are always for the same record, with the same content (unless you customize to record).

Dr Atul G- LNG
Tera Patron
Tera Patron

Hi @Suggy 

 

It depends,

 

if you are following the right way to  move your data from Dev - Test - Prod then yes

 but if you create instead of migrate ,same record 1st in dev and then in test then sys id will be different. 

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