---
sourceDocument: Australia ServiceNow AI Platform Capabilities
sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/servicenow-platform
Release :
- australia
ft:locale :
- en-US
ft:publication_title :
- Australia ServiceNow AI Platform Capabilities
ft:clusterId :
- platcap
bundleId :
- platcap
workflow :
- Platform
---
# Validity of a knowledge article
# Validity of a knowledge article {#ariaid-title1}
Release version: Australia
Updated March 12, 2026
 3 minutes to read
Summarize
 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 Validity of a knowledge article
Knowledge article validity determines the expiration date of an article in ServiceNow Knowledge Management.
Articles stop appearing in search results after their "Valid to" date expires or if the date is blank.
The "Valid to" field, found on the Knowledge form when creating or editing articles, controls this expiration.
Show full answer Show less
## Key Features
* **Default Validity Date:** When creating an article, the default "Valid to" date is based on the "Article Validity" setting of the associated knowledge base. This sets the expiration as the creation date plus a configured number of days. If no validity is configured, the expiration defaults to January 1, 2100.
* **Editing Articles with Versioning:** If versioning is enabled, updating an article resets the "Valid to" date based on the knowledge base's Article Validity setting. If this setting is blank, the existing "Valid to" date is retained. Minor edits to the "Valid to" date may be made without checking out the article if a specific property is enabled.
* **Moving Articles Between Knowledge Bases:** When moving an article to a different knowledge base, the "Valid to" date recalculates similarly---either retaining the previous date if the new base has no validity set or resetting based on the new base's Article Validity.
* **Date Format Considerations:** Use a four-digit year (yyyy) format to avoid issues with the "Valid to" date, especially when the system or user preferences default to a two-digit year (yy) format.
* **Email Notifications:** On the first day of each month, authorized users receive email reminders of articles expiring within the next month, enabling timely management of article validity.
## Practical Implications for ServiceNow Customers
By properly configuring the "Article Validity" in your knowledge bases and managing the "Valid to" dates on articles, you can ensure knowledge content remains current and relevant. The automatic email notifications help maintain article accuracy by prompting stakeholders to review and extend validity as needed. Understanding how validity dates update during article edits and moves helps maintain data integrity across your knowledge management lifecycle.
Knowledge article validity is the date a knowledge article expires. Articles do not appear in search results after the Valid to date or if the Valid to date is blank.
Decide when to expire a knowledge article by using the Valid to field in
the Knowledge form. The Knowledge form is available when creating or editing a knowledge
article.
When you create or edit a knowledge article, a default value appears in the Valid to field. As an article author or editor, you can select whether to keep or change
the default Valid to date.
Note:
If the system date format or user preferences is set to use yy year format, you might face issues when the Valid to date is set to the default date. Contact your system administrator or modify the user preferences to use a date format with the yyyy year format. For more information, see [Global date and time field
format](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=r_FormatDateAndTimeFields&version=australia&pubname=australia-platform-administration&ft:locale=en-US) and [Personalize the system date
format](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=t_PersonalizeTheSystemDateFormat&version=australia&pubname=australia-platform-administration&ft:locale=en-US) topics.
## Default article validity when creating a knowledge article {#article-validity__section_oqh_p1y_klb}
The default value of the Valid to field is derived from the
Article Validity field configured for the knowledge base (see [Create a knowledge base](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/UIignkeSft0ySIS10rUiYQ "Create a knowledge base to provide a self-service platform for users to store, share, and manage content. Configure knowledge bases into product or service categories and manage user access based on permissions. Customize workflows for publishing and retiring articles in the knowledge base.")). The
Valid to date starts from the date the article was created until the
number of days specified in the Article Validity field. If the
Article Validity field is blank, the default date in the
Valid to field for the knowledge article is set to January 1, 2100.
## Default article validity when editing a knowledge article {#article-validity__section_f4b_3by_klb}
If the article versioning feature is enabled, the default value of the Valid to date in the updated article version is automatically set as described in the
following table.
{#article-validity__table_h2b_2ms_mlb__entry__3}
| Article Validity value in the associated knowledge base | Valid to default value | Notes |
|-|-|-|
| Blank | Earlier version Valid to date value | If the Article Validity field in the knowledge base associated with the article is blank, the Valid to date value from the earlier version of the article is retained. |
| Is not blank | Article updated date + article validity | If the Article Validity field in the knowledge base associated with the article is not blank, the Valid to date is automatically updated to start from the date the article was updated until the number of days specified in the Article Validity field. |
[Table 1. Valid to date in the updated article version]
{#article-validity__table_h2b_2ms_mlb}
Note:
If the article versioning feature is enabled, you must check out the article to edit the Valid to date. However, if the glide.knowman.versioning.enable_minor_edits property is set to true, some users can make minor edits, such as changing the Valid to date, without checking out the article. For more information, see [Knowledge Management properties](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/dOG2gE5jKqdnUKB2HL6Ogg#r_KnowledgeProperties "As an administrator, you can configure the look and functionality of many knowledge base features with Knowledge Management properties.").
If you move a knowledge article to another knowledge base, the default value of the
Valid to date in the updated article is automatically set as described
in the following table.
{#article-validity__table_wsk_kls_mlb__entry__3}
| Article Validity value in the updated knowledge base | Valid to default value | Notes |
|-|-|-|
| Blank | Earlier Valid to date value | If the Article Validity field in the selected knowledge base is blank, the earlier Valid to date value is retained for the knowledge article. |
| Is not blank | Article updated date + article validity | If the Article Validity field in the selected knowledge base isn't blank, the Valid to date is automatically updated to start from the date the article was updated until the number of days specified in the Article Validity field. |
[Table 2. Valid to date when moving a knowledge article to another knowledge base]
{#article-validity__table_wsk_kls_mlb}
Note:
If the dictionary value of the Valid to field is modified, this dictionary value overrides the default value of the Valid to field calculated according to the Article Validity field.
## Email notifications for expiring knowledge articles {#article-validity__section_azl_dls_mlb}
On the first day of each month, the application sends an email notification to a list of
authorized recipients to remind them about articles that are about to expire in the next month.
The recipient can then extend the Valid to date to continue using the
article. For more information, see [Managing email notifications in Knowledge Management](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/4hmN3~3ZyTUrztyqH8UkQw "Reminders enable relevant users to review knowledge articles and complete tasks associated with them.").