---
sourceDocument: Brazil Build workflows
sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/build-workflows

 Release :

    - brazil

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Brazil Build workflows

ft:clusterId :

    - crworkflow

bundleId :

    - crworkflow

workflow :

    - Creator


---

# Create or Update Record action

# Create or Update Record action {#ariaid-title1}

Release version: Brazil  
Updated September 10, 2026  
![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 2 minutes to read  
Create or update a record in a ServiceNow table using a single operation. Update a record that exists, or create a record using the values provided.

## Identification of existing records {#create-update-record-designer__section_hh2_sfs_thb}

The Create or Update Record action identifies existing records by searching for matching values in the fields that you select as unique identifiers. For example, you can specify that the short description and priority fields
uniquely identify an incident. When the action finds an incident with a matching short description and priority, it updates the matching record rather than creating a new record.  
Note:  
* If no field is selected as a unique identifier, the action creates a record with the field values provided.
* If more than one record matches the value of the unique identifiers, the action doesn't update any records and displays an error message in the flow execution details.
{#create-update-record-designer__ul_ejg_wws_3hb}

## Roles and availability {#create-update-record-designer__section_y2f_14s_3hb}

Available as a Workflow Studio ServiceNow core action. Users with the flow_designer or admin role can add an action to a flow and define configuration details.

## Inputs {#create-update-record-designer__section_all_ztd_lwb}

Provide a value for each input that your flow needs. To add dynamic values, you can also drag and drop pills from the Data panel or select them from the pill picker.{#create-update-record-designer__inputs-description}

Table
:   Data type: Table Name

    Table in which to create or update a record.

Fields
:   Data type: Template Values

    Field values to set or update for the record. For example, to set the short description to a certain value, select Short description and set the
    desired value.  
    Important:  
    The system does not support updating multiple journal fields such as the additional comments or work notes of a task record.

    If adding the action to a subflow, you can [Create a template value input](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/qZ9M36zEHgpC4LkTK4YLrw "Enable flow authors to set field values for a record being created or updated. Use a template value input to set different field values each time you add an action or subflow to a flow."). Dynamically set field values can trigger server-side validation rules but cannot trigger UI policies.

Determines uniqueness
:   Data type: True/False

    Option for selecting the field as a unique identifier, which determines when to update or create a record. A record is updated when the incoming field value matches an
    existing record field value. A record is created when the incoming field value does not match an existing record field value. This option appears when the required table name and fields are selected.

## Outputs {#create-update-record-designer__section_tdf_15d_lwb}

These outputs appear in the Data panel. You can use them as inputs elsewhere in your flow.{#create-update-record-designer__outputs-description}

Record
:   Data type: Record

    Reference to record created or updated.

Table
:   Data type: Table Name

    Table where record was created or updated.

Status
:   Data type: Choice

    Completion status of the action. The flow execution details page displays one of these values.

    * Created \[created\]: The action created a record.
    * Updated \[updated\]: The action updated a record.
    * Error \[error\]: The action produced an error.
    {#create-update-record-designer__ul_wy3_3bz_zmb}

Error Message
:   Data type: String

Error message produced when the record operation fails.  

## Update problem record from inbound email {#create-update-record-designer__example_e4k_15d_lwb}

Figure 1. Inputs used for create or update problem record