---
sourceDocument: Australia Build or modify applications
sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/application-development

 Release :

    - australia

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Australia Build or modify applications

ft:clusterId :

    - cadev

bundleId :

    - cadev

workflow :

    - Development, Data, and Analytics


---

# Building applications

# Building applications {#ariaid-title1}

* Release version: Australia
* 
* Updated March 12, 2026
* 
* ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 3 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 Building Applications

This guide provides a structured approach for ServiceNow customers to become application developers using the ServiceNow AI Platform's low-code tools.
It outlines essential phases from planning to maintenance, enabling users to modernize processes and enhance productivity through application development.
Show full answer Show less  

## Key Features

* **ServiceNow Studio:** A modern environment that streamlines navigation, integrates low-code tools, and enhances productivity.
* **Application Development Phases:**
  * Planning: Define application goals, user interaction, data sources, and subscription needs.
  * Developing: Add data, user interfaces, automation, and security roles.
  * Testing: Ensure the application meets business requirements through various operational tests.
  * Deploying: Move the application to a production environment after successful testing.
  * Maintaining: Update and verify the application's functionality post-deployment.
* **Development Resources:** Access to the ServiceNow Store and Community for existing solutions, along with tools like App Engine Studio and Workflow Studio for building applications.

## Key Outcomes

By following the outlined phases, ServiceNow customers can effectively create applications that meet their specific business needs, improve user experiences, and leverage existing resources to optimize development efforts. Successful application deployment and maintenance will enhance overall operational efficiency and user satisfaction within the organization.  
Learn how to become an application developer using ServiceNow AI Platform low-code tools. Start with what you know and use a library of reusable components and published applications to modernize your legacy processes.

## Get started {#build-applications__section_x1k_kz2_svb}

|-|-|-|
| [Learning about creating applications Learn basic information about application development.](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/EWqVdKeHJQ~2nB5DoqOEEg "Using the ServiceNow Creator Workflow products, you can create intuitive experiences that run on the powerful ServiceNow AI Platform.") | [Phase 1: Planning your application Plan how your application will work.](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/06OOTpHoTbsbZVyMDY7ggw "The application development process starts with planning. Consider how the application will work, who will use it, and how it improves user experience.") | [Phase 2: Developing your application Add components and content to your application.](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/uOH0zN9habiNM7P0~nZAKg "Build a custom application to meet the business needs of your organization. Choose a builder for the type of user experience or workflow that you want to create.") |
| [Phase 3: Testing and debugging your application Verify that the application meets your business requirements.](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/DvPOm3eIZgWlWNw_hJxwhg "Verify the application meets your business requirements. Your testing should cover record operations (such as create, read, update, and delete), user interface elements (such as views and UI policies), runtime operations (such as business rules), and event script actions.") | [Phase 4: Deploying your application Deploy your application to your production environment.](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/YUibx61KMI0FNCtqm6lN7g "Deliver your application to users by publishing it to a live production environment.") | [Phase 5: Maintaining your application Review the status of your application and make changes as needed.](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/a0XvpFNL_x1W3snXk9DNhg "Use your app builder tool to update and modify your application. Use your testing tool to verify that your application still functions properly.") |
[ ]

{#build-applications__table_dzv_wmz_bvb}

## What's new {#build-applications__section_tpg_sdd_ddc}

Build apps smarter and deliver them faster with the new ServiceNow Studio. ServiceNow Studio empowers platform developers with a modern, unified environment for building on the ServiceNow AI Platform. ServiceNow Studio features streamlined navigation to applications and metadata, integrated low-code tools, efficient tracking and packaging of development work that accelerates development processes and enhances
productivity.

## App development phases {#build-applications__section_hs4_mcr_pvb}


[Learning about creating applications](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/EWqVdKeHJQ~2nB5DoqOEEg "Using the ServiceNow Creator Workflow products, you can create intuitive experiences that run on the powerful ServiceNow AI Platform.")

:   Decide whether you want to build a new application or extend an existing application. Check the ServiceNow Store and the ServiceNow Community for existing solutions.

    Before building your first application, you may want to learn some basic information about application development. This phase is optional, and you can complete it at any time while you work on other phases.

    * How [ServiceNow AI Platform](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=now-platform-landing&version=australia&pubname=australia-now-platform&ft:locale=en-US) is made up of tables and records. Learn how to convert a spreadsheet into record data.
    * How to [Get a development instance](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/TYFjcixPqwI_LnoLtl8s9w "Request a personal development instance to build and test applications.") to practice creating applications.
    * How to find out [Licensing](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/okpA1Pap3RgCQUXpgePTsA "Understand the different types of software licenses and subscriptions available with ServiceNow applications.") for which application features require a subscription.
    * How to contact [Support for developers](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/GBkyyjiEplIHLZivVDTAhg "Here's where ServiceNow developers get support.") to ask questions about application development.
    {#build-applications__ul_sq4_fgv_j5b}


[Phase 1: Planning your application](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/06OOTpHoTbsbZVyMDY7ggw "The application development process starts with planning. Consider how the application will work, who will use it, and how it improves user experience.")
:   The application development process starts with planning. Consider how the application will work, who will use it, and how it will improve your users' experience. Your application plan should answer the following questions:

    * What are the goals, objectives, and outputs of your application?
    * Who uses your application?
    * Who has access to parts of the application?
    * What tasks do people complete with your application?
    * Where does the data come from?
    * How do people interact with your application?
    * What processes must the application support?
    * What UI experience does the application use?
    * Is there an existing application available on the ServiceNow Store or the ServiceNow Community that you can use or extend?
    * What subscriptions does your application require?
    {#build-applications__phase-1-questions}


[Phase 2: Developing your application](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/uOH0zN9habiNM7P0~nZAKg "Build a custom application to meet the business needs of your organization. Choose a builder for the type of user experience or workflow that you want to create.")
:   During the development phase, you add the components and content of your application. Most applications consist of the following:

    Data
    :   Information is stored in your application via tables that you configure. For example, employee phone numbers or office locations.

    Experience
    :   Experiences are graphical interfaces that your users interact with. For example, you can create a portal where users find information, submit requests, or complete business tasks.

    Logic and automation
    :   Automate all the work in your application by adding logic and automation. For example, you can build a flow that sends a notification to the admin when someone makes a request.

    Security
    :   Configure roles and access controls to limit who can use your application. For example, you can restrict access to application data to users who have a specific role.

    Choose a builder that matches the type of user experience that your application provides.

    * See [Build apps using App Engine Studio](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/h8XxHHlHZ_33IOtVA6Hf2w "ServiceNow App Engine Studio (AES) is a guided, low-code tool for developing rich web applications to store information, automate business processes, and solve business problems. Work that was once assigned to administrators can now be delegated to employees with little to no training using AES.") to learn about low-code development.
    * See [Build workflows](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=build-workflows&version=australia&pubname=australia-build-workflows&ft:locale=en-US) to learn about creating automation with Workflow Studio or Playbooks.
    * See [Builder library](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/NdJNj2EIb47ol9eJfggVcg "The ServiceNow AI Platform provides a robust set of builder tools that enable you to quickly develop applications for your organization.") to learn about specialized application resources.
    {#build-applications__ul_df4_4gv_j5b}


[Phase 3: Testing and debugging your application](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/DvPOm3eIZgWlWNw_hJxwhg "Verify the application meets your business requirements. Your testing should cover record operations (such as create, read, update, and delete), user interface elements (such as views and UI policies), runtime operations (such as business rules), and event script actions.")
:   Verify that the application meets your business requirements. Your testing should cover the following elements:

    * Record operations, such as create, read, update, and delete.
    * User interface elements, such as views and UI policies.
    * Runtime operations, such as business rules and event script actions.
    {#build-applications__ul_kph_lcr_pvb}


[Phase 4: Deploying your application](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/YUibx61KMI0FNCtqm6lN7g "Deliver your application to users by publishing it to a live production environment.")

:   After successfully testing an application, deploy it to your production environment with your builder tool.

    * See [Managing app development using the App Engine Management Center](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/iI3Rxchmffrhh9mjdQp7_g "Track and manage requests, deployments, applications, and collaborative developers for your custom applications using the App Engine Management Center (AEMC) in your production instance.") to learn about the App Engine Management Center
    * See [ServiceNow application repository](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/S~qkI6Li8JtSw_8B8LsNHA "After you develop and test a custom application, you can make the application available to company instances by publishing it to the ServiceNow application repository.") to learn about the Application Repository.
    * See [System update sets](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/tY0pUBdQL8rXBWDe_awKqg "An update set is a group of configuration changes that can be moved from one instance to another. This feature allows administrators to group a series of changes into a named set and then move them as a unit to other systems for testing or deployment.") to learn about classic deployment using update sets.
    {#build-applications__ul_qlt_4gv_j5b}


[Phase 5: Maintaining your application](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/a0XvpFNL_x1W3snXk9DNhg "Use your app builder tool to update and modify your application. Use your testing tool to verify that your application still functions properly.")

:   Use your Phase 2 builder tool to update and modify your application. Use your Phase 3 testing tool to verify that your application still functions properly.

## Applications and features {#build-applications__section_rhx_4cr_pvb}

* [Learning about developing on the ServiceNow AI Platform](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/EWqVdKeHJQ~2nB5DoqOEEg "Using the ServiceNow Creator Workflow products, you can create intuitive experiences that run on the powerful ServiceNow AI Platform.")
* [Planning your application](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/06OOTpHoTbsbZVyMDY7ggw "The application development process starts with planning. Consider how the application will work, who will use it, and how it improves user experience.")
* [Developing your application](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/uOH0zN9habiNM7P0~nZAKg "Build a custom application to meet the business needs of your organization. Choose a builder for the type of user experience or workflow that you want to create.")
* [Testing and debugging applications](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/DvPOm3eIZgWlWNw_hJxwhg "Verify the application meets your business requirements. Your testing should cover record operations (such as create, read, update, and delete), user interface elements (such as views and UI policies), runtime operations (such as business rules), and event script actions.")
* [Deploying applications](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/YUibx61KMI0FNCtqm6lN7g "Deliver your application to users by publishing it to a live production environment.")
* [Maintaining your application](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/a0XvpFNL_x1W3snXk9DNhg "Use your app builder tool to update and modify your application. Use your testing tool to verify that your application still functions properly.")
{#build-applications__ul_sc4_wcr_pvb}