---
sourceDocument: Australia ServiceNow AI Platform Administration
sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/platform-administration

 Release :

    - australia

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Australia ServiceNow AI Platform Administration

ft:clusterId :

    - platadm

bundleId :

    - platadm

workflow :

    - Platform


---

# Data lookup rules

# Data lookup rules {#ariaid-title1}

* Release version: Australia
* 
* Updated March 12, 2026
* 
* ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 1 minute to read

Data lookup rules offer a generic way to change any field value, not just assignment
fields.  
[Data lookup and record matching support](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/u1CPRhLLifAsakYrzhLZKQ "The data lookup and record matching feature enables administrators to define rules that automatically set one or more field values when certain conditions are met.") offer the following improvements over the Assignment module:

* Ability to change any field value not just an assignment field
* More options to define when a rule runs:
  * On form change (Allows assignment rules to apply to unsaved changes on a form)
  * On record insert
  * On record update
  {#c_DataLookupRules__ul_und_xmh_fq}
* Option to replace existing values (including default values)
{#c_DataLookupRules__ul_izf_4mh_fq}  
Note:  
You can define data lookup and Assignment rules at the same time. The system ignores any duplicate rules after an incident has been assigned unless you are using a data lookup definition option to replace existing values.
**Related concepts**   

* [Assignment rules module](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/aNICp3046eHOtjfDzDzhJw "The Assignment rules module allows you to automatically set a value in the assigned_to and assignment_group fields when a set of conditions occurs.")
* [Precedence between data lookup, assignment, and business rules](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/4OfQsu4Pdth4yN4vakDvQw "Scripts, assignment rules, business rules, workflows, escalations, and engines all take effect in relation to a database operation, such as insert or update. In many cases, the order of these events is important.")
* [Workflow assignments](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/5Goj~VycNDYfIt4IksCzzQ "An alternative to creating data lookup or assignment rules is to create one or more workflow tasks that assign a task record as part of a workflow.")
* [Precedence between data lookup, assignment, and business rules](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/4OfQsu4Pdth4yN4vakDvQw "Scripts, assignment rules, business rules, workflows, escalations, and engines all take effect in relation to a database operation, such as insert or update. In many cases, the order of these events is important.")  
**Related tasks**   

* [Create an assignment rule](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/GBsMiR4oSba9JuOxTuvDyg "Automatically assign a record according to one or more conditions in an assignment rule. Assignment rules are designed to run at the time you open a record.")
* [Create an assignment data lookup rule](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/3GrOAbST0_GFZyR0O~5Pew "Automatically assign a record using Data Lookup and Record Matching.")  
**Related reference**   

* [Baseline assignment rules example](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/A3sKavUIwpXkSSzI9LxuXQ "A baseline instance contains certain assignment rules.")