---
sourceDocument: Australia Enable AI
sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/intelligent-experiences

 Release :

    - australia

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Australia Enable AI

ft:clusterId :

    - platai

bundleId :

    - platai

workflow :

    - Platform


---

# Create a simple entity

# Create a simple entity {#ariaid-title1}

* Release version: Australia
* 
* Updated March 12, 2026
* 
* ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 2 minutes to read

Create one or more simple entities from words in your utterance examples. An entity is an object of, or context for, an action.

## Before you begin

* Make sure that the NLU Workbench plugin, NLU Workbench - Core plugin, NLU Common Model plugin, and Predictive Intelligence plugin are all installed and activated on your instance.
* Create or use an existing NLU model for Virtual Agent or AI Search.
* Create or use an existing intent.
* Role required: nlu_editor, nlu_admin, or admin. The nlu_editor must be assigned to the model.
{#create-nlu-entities__ul_shl_vvs_tgb}

## About this task

Simple entities are words or phrases whose value can be extracted by your model.
Simple entities are identified based on the context in which the entity is used in
an utterance.

For the following example procedure, you've already created an intent that's titled
SubmitAccessRequest and you're creating a simple entity for the
type of access the user is requesting.

## Procedure

1. Navigate to AllNLU WorkbenchModels.  
   The Virtual Agent tab opens by default.
2. Select the tab corresponding to your model's application, then the name of the model you want to add an entity to.  
   For this example, you choose the NLU for Access Requests model.
3. In the Build and train your model card, click View phase.
4. In the intents tab, click the name of the intent.  
   For this example, you click SubmitAccessRequest.
5. Click a word in one of the utterances to bring up the entity window.  
   For this example, click the word parking garage.
6. Click Create New Entity.
7. In the Create a new entity screen, enter a name and select the Simple entity type.  
   For this example, you enter <kbd class="ph userinput">buildingaccess</kbd> for the Entity Name.  
   Note:  
   Select Model availability to make the entity available to every intent in the model. If you check the box, the entity shows in the Associated Entities tab.
8. Click Save.  
   The entity saves and the words in the utterance remain highlighted.

## What to do next

Your utterances can reference a vocabulary source by using the @ handle. If you have
a list of values that are defined in a vocabulary source, you can annotate the @
handle as a simple entity to extract it rather than repeating the utterance for all
of the values. The referenced vocabulary source can be a table or a list. For
example, the following image shows how you invoke a vocabulary source that lists
various conference room names.  
Figure 1. Example utterance using a vocabulary source

For more information, see [NLU vocabulary](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/k8ek5O8XmVvHv9o69Ck8sg "Use NLU vocabulary items to help the system recognize the various ways your users express their requests. Use vocabulary sources to help the system recognize objects in tables or lists, such as names of conference rooms or catalog items.").

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