---
sourceDocument: Brazil API Reference
sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/api-reference

 Release :

    - brazil

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Brazil API Reference

ft:clusterId :

    - crapiref

bundleId :

    - crapiref

workflow :

    - Creator


---

# MobileGlideElement - Scoped

# MobileGlideElement - Scoped {#ariaid-title1}

Release version: Brazil  
Updated September 10, 2026  
![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 7 minutes to read  
The MobileGlideElement API provides the subset of GlideElement available to mobile scripts. An instance is returned when a script dot-walks into a field on a MobileGlideRecord.

MobileGlideElement provides the subset of GlideElement that can be evaluated against the
local database on a device. An instance is returned when a script dot-walks into a field on a [MobileGlideRecord](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/4ZK0Lnx5ps5Dc3iVcod09w#MobileGlideRecordScopedAPI "The MobileGlideRecord API provides the subset of GlideRecord available to mobile scripts, for querying and updating records through the mobile scripting environment."), or accesses `current.<field>` in a condition script. The element carries both the raw value and the display value of a single field, and can report
whether the field has been changed. A script can therefore compare the stored value of a field with the value shown to the user, or detect an edit that hasn't been saved to the record yet.

MobileGlideElement also supports field access with the dot operator, which is what enables a chained dot-walk through reference fields. For example, `current.caller_id.name` first resolves
`caller_id` to a MobileGlideElement, and then dot-walks `.name` from that element into the referenced record.

Whether a script that calls this API is evaluated on the instance or on the device depends on how the component that runs the script is configured. The methods in this class are available in both cases: the mobile client provides its
own implementation of the same API surface, so the same script returns the same result in either context. Typical calling contexts include a condition script on a mobile button (sys_sg_button) and an
execution script on a write-back action item or step.
This API contains the following capabilities:

* Getting field values: [MobileGlideElement - getValue()](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/1tBNkT_tUfiz7lbIJgTzAA#MGE-getValue "Gets the internal value of the field as a string. For a choice field, this is the stored value, not the label shown to the user."), [MobileGlideElement - getDisplayValue()](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/1tBNkT_tUfiz7lbIJgTzAA#MGE-getDisplayValue "Gets the value of the field as it is shown to the user, such as the label of a choice or the display value of a referenced record."), [MobileGlideElement - toString()](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/1tBNkT_tUfiz7lbIJgTzAA#MGE-toString "Returns the value of the field as a string.")
* Setting field values: [MobileGlideElement - setValue(Object value)](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/1tBNkT_tUfiz7lbIJgTzAA#MGE-setValue_O "Sets the internal value of the field, such as the stored value of a choice."), [MobileGlideElement - setDisplayValue(String value)](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/1tBNkT_tUfiz7lbIJgTzAA#MGE-setDisplayValue_S "Sets the value of the field using its display value, such as the label of a choice.")
* Getting field information: [MobileGlideElement - getName()](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/1tBNkT_tUfiz7lbIJgTzAA#MGE-getName "Gets the name of the field that this element represents, such as priority.")
* Checking field state: [MobileGlideElement - nil()](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/1tBNkT_tUfiz7lbIJgTzAA#MGE-nil "Determines whether the field has no value, meaning the value is null or empty."), [MobileGlideElement - changes()](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/1tBNkT_tUfiz7lbIJgTzAA#MGE-changes "Determines whether the value of the field has changed since the record was loaded, such as by an edit that has not been saved yet.")

## API access {#MobileGlideElementScopedAPI__section_onw_wpp_lkc}

This API is registered in the sn_mobile_scripting application scope and requires the mobile_admin role. It requires the
com.glide.sg.mobile_scripting plugin, which is enabled by default. The class has no public constructor. Obtain an instance from the `getElement(field)` method of [MobileGlideRecord](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/4ZK0Lnx5ps5Dc3iVcod09w#MobileGlideRecordScopedAPI "The MobileGlideRecord API provides the subset of GlideRecord available to mobile scripts, for querying and updating records through the mobile scripting environment."), or through dot-walk field access, which resolves to the same element.

## MobileGlideElement - changes() {#ariaid-title2}

Determines whether the value of the field has changed since the record was loaded, such as by an edit that has not been saved yet.
{#MGE-changes__table_MGE-changes_p__entry__3}

| Name | Type | Description |
|-|-|-|
| None |   |   |
[Table 1. Parameters]

{#MGE-changes__table_MGE-changes_p} {#MGE-changes__table_MGE-changes_r__entry__2}

| Type | Description |
|-|-|
| Boolean | Flag that indicates whether the value of the field has changed since the record was loaded. Possible values: * `true`: The value has changed. * `false`: The value is unchanged. |
[Table 2. Returns]

{#MGE-changes__table_MGE-changes_r}  
This example checks whether the priority field has changed and logs a message if it has.

    if (current.priority.changes()) {
            mgs.info('Priority was changed');
            }

Output:

    Priority was changed

This example checks whether the priority field has changed and logs the Boolean result.

    var priorityChanged = current.priority.changes();
            mgs.info('Priority changed: ' + priorityChanged);

Output:

    Priority changed: true

This example checks whether either the priority or the state field has changed and logs a single true or false result. A button condition can use this check to show a Notify manager button only after one of those fields is edited.

    var needsReview = current.priority.changes() || current.state.changes();
            mgs.info('Needs review: ' + needsReview);

Output:

    Needs review: true

## MobileGlideElement - getDisplayValue() {#ariaid-title3}

Gets the value of the field as it is shown to the user, such as the label of a choice or the display value of a referenced record.
{#MGE-getDisplayValue__table_MGE-getDisplayValue_p__entry__3}

| Name | Type | Description |
|-|-|-|
| None |   |   |
[Table 3. Parameters]

{#MGE-getDisplayValue__table_MGE-getDisplayValue_p} {#MGE-getDisplayValue__table_MGE-getDisplayValue_r__entry__2}

| Type | Description |
|-|-|
| String | Value of the field as it is shown to the user. For a choice field, this is the choice label. |
[Table 4. Returns]

{#MGE-getDisplayValue__table_MGE-getDisplayValue_r}  
This example gets the display value of the state field, which is the label users see, and logs it.

    mgs.info(current.state.getDisplayValue());

Output:

    In Progress

This example builds a status message for users from the record number and the state label. Use the display value for text that users read, and use getValue() for logic.

    var message = 'Incident ' + current.number.getValue() + ' is now ' + current.state.getDisplayValue();
            mgs.info(message);

Output:

    Incident INC0010025 is now In Progress

## MobileGlideElement - getName() {#ariaid-title4}

Gets the name of the field that this element represents, such as `priority`.
{#MGE-getName__table_MGE-getName_p__entry__3}

| Name | Type | Description |
|-|-|-|
| None |   |   |
[Table 5. Parameters]

{#MGE-getName__table_MGE-getName_p} {#MGE-getName__table_MGE-getName_r__entry__2}

| Type | Description |
|-|-|
| String | Name of the field. |
[Table 6. Returns]

{#MGE-getName__table_MGE-getName_r}  
This example gets the name of the priority field and logs it.

    mgs.info(current.priority.getName());

Output:

    priority

This example defines a helper function that logs the name of any field that has no value. Use getName() so the same function works for any field.

    function logIfEmpty(element) {
            if (element.nil()) {
            mgs.info(element.getName() + ' is required');
            }
            }
            
            logIfEmpty(current.assigned_to);

Output:

    assigned_to is required

## MobileGlideElement - getValue() {#ariaid-title5}

Gets the internal value of the field as a string. For a choice field, this is the stored value, not the label shown to the user.
{#MGE-getValue__table_MGE-getValue_p__entry__3}

| Name | Type | Description |
|-|-|-|
| None |   |   |
[Table 7. Parameters]

{#MGE-getValue__table_MGE-getValue_p} {#MGE-getValue__table_MGE-getValue_r__entry__2}

| Type | Description |
|-|-|
| String | Internal value of the field, as a string. For example, the stored value of a choice or the sys_id of a referenced record. |
[Table 8. Returns]

{#MGE-getValue__table_MGE-getValue_r}  
This example gets the internal value of the state field and logs it.

    mgs.info(current.state.getValue());

Output:

    2

This example checks whether an incident is in progress. A button condition can use this check to show a Resolve button only for incidents in that state. Compare against the internal value, which is always a string, because the label can differ by language.

    var isInProgress = current.state.getValue() === '2';
            mgs.info('Show Resolve button: ' + isInProgress);

Output:

    Show Resolve button: true

## MobileGlideElement - nil() {#ariaid-title6}

Determines whether the field has no value, meaning the value is null or empty.
{#MGE-nil__table_MGE-nil_p__entry__3}

| Name | Type | Description |
|-|-|-|
| None |   |   |
[Table 9. Parameters]

{#MGE-nil__table_MGE-nil_p} {#MGE-nil__table_MGE-nil_r__entry__2}

| Type | Description |
|-|-|
| Boolean | Flag that indicates whether the field has no value. Possible values: * `true`: The field is null or empty. * `false`: The field has a value. |
[Table 10. Returns]

{#MGE-nil__table_MGE-nil_r}  
This example checks whether the assigned to field has a value and logs a message if it doesn't.

    if (current.assigned_to.nil()) {
            mgs.info('Unassigned');
            }

Output:

    Unassigned

This example checks whether an incident is unassigned. A button condition can use this check to show an Assign to me button only for incidents that no one owns.

    var canAssign = current.assigned_to.nil();
            mgs.info('Show Assign to me button: ' + canAssign);

Output:

    Show Assign to me button: true

## MobileGlideElement - setDisplayValue(String value) {#ariaid-title7}

Sets the value of the field using its display value, such as the label of a choice.
{#MGE-setDisplayValue_S__table_MGE-setDisplayValue_S_p__entry__3}

| Name | Type | Description |
|-|-|-|
| value | String | New display value for the field. For a choice field, this is the choice label shown to the user. |
[Table 11. Parameters]

{#MGE-setDisplayValue_S__table_MGE-setDisplayValue_S_p} {#MGE-setDisplayValue_S__table_MGE-setDisplayValue_S_r__entry__2}

| Type | Description |
|-|-|
| void |   |
[Table 12. Returns]

{#MGE-setDisplayValue_S__table_MGE-setDisplayValue_S_r}  
This example sets the state field using the label that users see.

    current.state.setDisplayValue('In Progress');

This example sets the state of an incident to Resolved by its label and logs whether the field changed. A write-back action can use this approach when the label is easier to maintain than the stored value.

    current.state.setDisplayValue('Resolved');
            mgs.info('State changed: ' + current.state.changes());

Output:

    State changed: true

## MobileGlideElement - setValue(Object value) {#ariaid-title8}

Sets the internal value of the field, such as the stored value of a choice.
{#MGE-setValue_O__table_MGE-setValue_O_p__entry__3}

| Name | Type | Description |
|-|-|-|
| value | Object | New internal value for the field. For a choice field, this is the stored value, not the label shown to the user. For a reference field, this is the sys_id of the referenced record. The value can be a string, number, or Boolean, depending on the field type. |
[Table 13. Parameters]

{#MGE-setValue_O__table_MGE-setValue_O_p} {#MGE-setValue_O__table_MGE-setValue_O_r__entry__2}

| Type | Description |
|-|-|
| void |   |
[Table 14. Returns]

{#MGE-setValue_O__table_MGE-setValue_O_r}  
This example sets the priority field using its internal value.

    current.priority.setValue('1');

This example sets fields of different types on an incident, such as in a write-back action that resolves a record. The method accepts a value of any type, and the type to pass depends on the field. The script then logs each internal value, which is always returned as a string.

    // String: a choice field takes its stored value
            current.priority.setValue('2');
            
            // Number: an integer field takes a number
            current.reassignment_count.setValue(3);
            
            // Boolean: a true/false field takes a boolean
            current.active.setValue(false);
            
            // String: a reference field takes the sys_id of the referenced record
            current.assigned_to.setValue('6816f79cc0a8016401c5a33be04be441');
            
            // String: a date-time field takes a value in the internal format
            current.due_date.setValue('2026-09-01 17:00:00');
            
            mgs.info('priority: ' + current.priority.getValue());
            mgs.info('reassignment_count: ' + current.reassignment_count.getValue());
            mgs.info('active: ' + current.active.getValue());
            mgs.info('assigned_to: ' + current.assigned_to.getValue());
            mgs.info('due_date: ' + current.due_date.getValue());

Output:

    priority: 2
            reassignment_count: 3
            active: false
            assigned_to: 6816f79cc0a8016401c5a33be04be441
            due_date: 2026-09-01 17:00:00

## MobileGlideElement - toString() {#ariaid-title9}

Returns the value of the field as a string.
{#MGE-toString__table_MGE-toString_p__entry__3}

| Name | Type | Description |
|-|-|-|
| None |   |   |
[Table 15. Parameters]

{#MGE-toString__table_MGE-toString_p} {#MGE-toString__table_MGE-toString_r__entry__2}

| Type | Description |
|-|-|
| String | Value of the field as a string. |
[Table 16. Returns]

{#MGE-toString__table_MGE-toString_r}  
This example calls toString() on the priority field and logs the resulting string.

    mgs.info(current.priority.toString());

Output:

    1

This example converts the short description field to a string so the script can search it with a string method. A button condition can use this check to show an Escalate button only for incidents that mention an outage. A field element is an object, so convert it to a string before you call string methods on it or compare it with `===`.

    var description = current.short_description.toString();
            var isOutage = description.toLowerCase().indexOf('outage') !== -1;
            mgs.info('Show Escalate button: ' + isOutage);

Output:

    Show Escalate button: true