What is the preferred way of setting value for a field?

[Suggy]

What is the preferred way of setting value for a field? All the below 3 lines works.

Question - Which one to use where and WHY? why there are so many methods? Is there any difference between them?

gr.setValue('description','test desc');
OR

gr.description = 'test desc';

OR

gr.description.setValue('test desc');

[Maddysunil]

@Suggy 

1. gr.setValue('description','test desc');

   This method is a direct way to set the value of a field using the setValue() function on a GlideRecord object (gr). It's a standard and commonly used method in ServiceNow scripting. It's straightforward and explicitly sets the field's value.

   Usage: This method is preferred when you want to set multiple fields within the same GlideRecord object in a single statement or when you want to set the value conditionally based on certain logic.

2. gr.description = 'test desc';

   This method directly assigns the value to the field using the dot notation. It's more concise and appears similar to setting a property, which might make the code more readable.

   Usage: It's suitable for simple assignments where you're only setting one or two fields, especially when you're sure about the field name and its existence.

3. gr.description.setValue('test desc');

   This method directly calls the setValue() function on the field itself. While it's not as common as the other two methods, it provides a bit more explicitness by operating directly on the field object.

   Usage: This method can be useful when you're performing operations or checks directly on the field itself before setting the value. It allows for more complex manipulations if needed.

Differences and Recommendations:

• All three methods essentially achieve the same result, so there's no significant functional difference between them.
• The choice of method often depends on readability, coding conventions, and specific requirements of your script.
• For most straightforward assignments, the second method (gr.description = 'test desc';) might be preferred due to its simplicity and readability.
• If you're dealing with multiple fields or need to perform operations/checks on the field before setting the value, the first method (gr.setValue('description','test desc');) might be more appropriate.
• The third method (gr.description.setValue('test desc');) is less commonly used but can be handy if you need to operate specifically on the field object itself.

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Thanks