--- sourceDocument: Zurich Build workflows sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/zurich/build-workflows Release : - zurich ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Zurich Build workflows ft:clusterId : - crworkflow bundleId : - crworkflow workflow : - Creator --- # Input and output data variables # Workflow Studio input and output data variables {#ariaid-title1} * Release version: Zurich * * Updated July 31, 2025 * * ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 2 minutes to read Summarize ![AI sparkle icon](https://servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ai-sparkle-icon) Summarized using AI This content was generated using new OpenAI-powered functionality. Results are provided on an as is basis and are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete. ## Summary of Workflow Studio input and output data variables Workflow Studio in ServiceNow uses variables to handle input and output data for actions, subflows, and flows. These variables store different types of data essential for building and managing workflows, allowing you to pass and manipulate data efficiently within your automation processes. Show full answer Show less ## Key Features * **Input and Output Variables for Actions:** Inputs appear as data pills in the Input Variables section, and outputs appear in the Output Variables section of the Data pane. Step input variables are not shown individually, but step output variables are accessible within the step context. * **Flow and Subflow Variables:** Flow triggers and subflow inputs/outputs are displayed as data pills in respective sections of the Data pane. Action inputs within flows are not displayed separately, but outputs are visible as part of the actions. * **Data Pills:** Each data pill includes a label and a data type description, and can be expanded to explore nested data elements, providing transparency into the structure of the data being handled. * **Supported Data Types:** Workflow Studio supports a variety of data types to store ServiceNow AI Platform record data and complex data such as arrays and objects. Data types must match the source data's ServiceNow AI Platform field type for records. ## Data Types Supported Commonly supported data types include: * **Approval rules:** Conditions for approval processes. * **Arrays:** Collections of Booleans, choices, datetimes, integers, objects, or strings. * **Choice and Conditions:** Values for choice lists and condition sets tied to specific tables. * **Datetime, Integer, String, Boolean:** Standard data formats for dates, whole numbers, text, and true/false values. * **File attachment:** Stores a single file associated with a record within the action or flow. * **JSON:** Stores JSON-formatted text useful for integrations and scripting. * **List.\[Table\], Records.\[Table\], Reference.\[Table\]:** Store lists or single Sys ID references to records in specific tables, supporting field options like default records and reference qualifiers. * **Object:** Stores JavaScript objects. * **Password (2 Way Encrypted):** Securely stores encrypted passwords that can be decrypted. * **Table name:** Stores alphanumeric table name strings from the database dictionary. ## Practical Application for ServiceNow Customers Understanding the input and output variables and their data types in Workflow Studio enables you to design precise and effective workflows by correctly handling the data flowing through actions, subflows, and flows. Proper use of data pills and matching variable data types ensures data integrity and optimizes workflow automation. This knowledge is critical when building custom actions and flows, helping you to leverage ServiceNow AI Platform capabilities fully. Actions and subflows use variables to store input and output data. The variable data type determines what kind of data it stores and its advanced configuration options. ## Data variables available for actions The Workflow Studio UI displays action inputs as data pills in the Input Variables section of the Data pane. Action outputs are listed as data pills in the Output Variables section of the Data pane. Workflow Studio does not display step input variables in the data pane. The output variables produced by each step are available in the data pane as part of the step that created them. For more information on using input and output variables to create a custom action, see [Building actions](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/BHRfXSGtf8Kc2fhuft2JUw "Workflow Studio is the default ServiceNow AI Platform process automation builder used to create actions. Workflow Studio replaces the Workflow Editor."). Figure 1. Sample Workflow Studio data panel Each data pill consists of a label and a data type description. For example, the Incident input variable uses the Record data type to store an incident Sys ID. The Problem output variable uses the Record data type to store a problem Sys ID. You can expand data pills to see the contents and hierarchy of any child elements. ## Data variables available for flows and subflows {#action-inputs-outputs__section_zv4_3fh_blb} The Workflow Studio UI displays the flow trigger as a data pill in the data pane, and displays subflow inputs as data pills in the Subflow Inputs section of the Data pane. Subflow outputs are listed as data pills in the Subflow Outputs section of the Data pane. Workflow Studio does not display action input variables in the data pane. The output variables produced by each action are available in the data pane as part of the action that created them. For more information on using input and output variables to create a flow, see [Building flows](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/smlSfiTd1RsmUbePNaTY1Q "Workflow Studio is the default ServiceNow AI Platform process automation builder used to create flows. Workflow Studio replaces the Workflow Editor."). ## Supported variable data types {#action-inputs-outputs__section_vrm_s2s_y1b} Workflow Studio supports variable data types to store ServiceNow AI Platform record data and complex data. Variables that store record data must have a data type matching the ServiceNow AI Platform [field type](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=r_FieldTypes&version=zurich&pubname=zurich-platform-administration&ft:locale=en-US) of the source data. Variables for [complex data](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/Y9fxXyhzarxU7nHGXIiIhw "Use a graphical interface to work with collections of complex structured data. Help design users understand the organization of structured data, and add, remove, or configure its individual elements.") must match the type of complex data stored, either an array or an object. Note: This reference documentation doesn't list all possible ServiceNow AI Platform data types available to actions and flows. Instead, the reference information focuses on the data types used by ServiceNow provided actions and flows. For a list and descriptions of available ServiceNow AI Platform data types, see [field type](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=r_FieldTypes&version=zurich&pubname=zurich-platform-administration&ft:locale=en-US). * **[Approval rules data type](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/9tpBjS1xzwXSdbHqgOJWHw)** Store the conditions for approving or rejecting an approval requests. * **[Array.Boolean data type](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/gp7YIXCqPXn7wheQSPWHLw)** Store a sequence of true or false values in an array. * **[Array.Choice data type](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/gnX4DZDVL43RHYfJgG9fXA)** Store a sequence of choice list values in an array. * **[Array.Datetime data type](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/GCh0oTD6sO5hZAXKKKfxhg)** Store a sequence of date-time values in an array. * **[Array.Integer data type](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/2E~kfVLvVl9V148oPZMnzg)** Store a sequence of numeric integer data in an array. * **[Array.Object data type](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/mOPCXVFZrvI5ngq9oKmgtQ)** Store a sequence of JavaScript objects in an array. * **[Array.String data type](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/vr78PSdabVpO0qf9JFGKOg)** Store a sequence of alphanumeric text values in an array. * **[Choice data](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/hD_KB_MAjEkj5QuBija1TA)** Store choice list values for a specific choice field. * **[Conditions data type](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/lu7m96p3F7Pote5l5pdJlA)** Store a set of conditions for a specific type of record. You must select a source table to define the conditions. * **[Datetime data type](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/CQ_Ied8PB3VFvpmo9qGuIA)** Store date-time values. * **[File attachment data type](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/L3xk0Mkk8r53Zd32Go0dKA)** Store a single file attachment as part of the action or flow's associated record rather than a record in the system Attachment table. * **[Integer data type](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/pp6_GMjueywMNvTrlTDdxg)** Store numeric integer data. Integers are whole numbers only. Fractions and decimals values are not supported. * **[JSON data type](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/BR~bj72M4H8a2BTJFtFdKg)** Store JSON formatted text values. JSON values can be generated by integration steps or by scripts. * **[List.\[Table\] data type](~~yV76MHZ5pwMOFUfMItnA)** Stores a list of record Sys IDs associated to a specific table. This variable supports ServiceNow AI Platform List field options such as default records and reference qualifiers. * **[Object data type](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/s8D_wZ6UyClLsnajw7hjUg)** Store a JavaScript object. * **[Password (2 Way Encrypted) design considerations](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/si5~OMbARSRpPHy4SUDeBw)** Store encrypted password data that can be decrypted. * **[Records.\[Table\] data type](frx2mUkPDQOcXP2MKjuHhg)** Stores one or more Sys ID references to records in a specific table. The Records data format is also known as a Glide List since it stores a list of GlideRecord Sys ID values. * **[Reference.\[Table\] data type](E~mNAlCtjQfjfj64atpASA)** Store a single Sys ID reference to a record in a specific table. * **[String data type](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/b4sNK7eiPimyfSDgI3vH0A)** Store alphanumeric text values using JavaScript data conventions. * **[Table name data type](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/0iINE4WbKJ4bNMfHgiY4WA)** Store a table name value as specified in the database dictionary. Table names are always alphanumeric strings. * **[True/false data type](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/qNerP91R7rdRWirE9mow5Q)** Store true or false values using JavaScript data conventions. * **[Variables.\[Table\] data type](goBXGrEwyHxoXrVokO05tw)** Store a reference to a specific table of Glide variables such as a decision input variable.