Metadata app file categories in the ServiceNow Studio Navigator

  • Release version: Australia
  • Updated May 28, 2026
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Metadata app file categories in the ServiceNow Studio Navigator

    ServiceNow Studio allows you to access and manage various metadata types supported by the ServiceNow AI Platform, covering automations, integrations, user interface components, and more. The Navigator panel’s File Categories section organizes these metadata types by taxonomy category, enabling streamlined navigation and management based on your access permissions.

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    Accessing Metadata in the Navigator Panel

    • The File Categories section displays all accessible metadata types, grouped into categories like Automation, Data, UI, Integrations, and others.
    • Expanding a category reveals subcategories; for example, the Automation category includes actions, flows, and playbooks.
    • Selecting a metadata sub-type shows all files of that type, which you can open directly in the appropriate builder, such as Workflow Studio for flows.
    • The source table for each metadata subcategory is visible when selected, and you can open a list view of all files of that type for easier management.
    • You can customize the File Categories menu by grouping or ungrouping categories using the Show parent categories option.

    Metadata and Platform Tables

    Metadata files live as application files in their respective tables on the ServiceNow AI Platform. The primary metadata table is sysmetadata, with specialized metadata types extending this table—for example, flows use the syshubflow table. Understanding these relationships helps in locating and managing metadata effectively.

    Available Metadata Categories

    The metadata is organized into categories reflecting their function and builder experience, including but not limited to:

    • AI Agentic Workflow: AI Agent Skill
    • Automation: Automation Schedules, Actions, Flows, Playbooks
    • Data: Client development, MID Server, Server development
    • Integrations: Inbound and outbound integration metadata
    • Mobile: Mobile App Builder, Mobile Card Builder
    • User Interface (UI): Content, UI Builder, User interface files
    • Other: Natural Language Understanding (NLU), Reporting, Security, Properties

    This categorization helps ServiceNow customers quickly find and manage relevant metadata files for their applications and customizations.

    Use ServiceNow Studio to access and work with all metadata types that the ServiceNow AI Platform supports, from automations and integrations to user interface files.

    How do I access metadata in the Navigator panel?

    The File Categories section of the Navigator panel displays all metadata types accessible to the current user, arranged by taxonomy category. Expanding each metadata file category shows its subcategories. For example, expanding the Automation category displays all automation metadata sub-types, such as actions, flows, and playbooks.
    Note:
    For a complete list of each category's file types, see ServiceNow Studio Navigator panel taxonomy.
    Figure 1. Metadata sections in the File Categories section of the Navigator
    Expanded AI section of the File Categories section of the Navigator

    Selecting a sub-type of an expanded file category displays all metadata of that type. For example, selecting Flow under the Automation file category displays a list of all accessible flows. Select one to open it in Workflow Studio in a tab in ServiceNow Studio.

    Note:
    The source table for each sub-category of metadata file type appears when you select the category. Select Open list to see a complete list of all the files of that type.
    Figure 2. Table for app files
    The base table for the app file type appears at the top of the list

    For more information on using the Navigator panel to find app files by metadata category, see Find an app or app file using the Navigator panel.

    How does metadata relate to platform tables?

    Metadata lives as application files in their corresponding tables on the ServiceNow AI Platform. The main metadata table is sys_metadata, but specific types of metadata extend the sys_metadata table. For example, flows and sub-flows use the extended sys_hub_flow table.

    For a list of available metadata and corresponding tables that extend sys_metadata, see ServiceNow Studio Navigator panel taxonomy.

    What metadata is available by category?

    Each file category contains different metadata types for automations, data, integrations, mobile app builder, UI, and other categories. For a list of each file type, its primary table, primary builder experience, and more, see ServiceNow Studio Navigator panel taxonomy.

    Note:
    Group or ungroup the metadata categories in the File Categories menu by selecting the more options icon more options icon and selecting or deselecting Show parent categories.
    Table 1. Categories of metadata
    Category Metadata sections
    AI
    • Agentic Workflow
    • AI Agent
    • Skill
    Automation
    • Automation
    • Schedules
    Data
    • Client development
    • Data
    • MID Server
    • Server development
    Integrations
    • Inbound integration
    • Outbound integration
    • Properties
    Mobile
    • Mobile App Builder
    • Mobile Card Builder
    UI
    • Content
    • UI Builder
    • User interface
    Other
    • Natural Language Understanding (NLU)
    • Reporting
    • Security