Filters and breadcrumbs

  • Release version: Australia
  • Updated March 12, 2026
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Filters and Breadcrumbs

    A filter is a set of conditions used to refine data visibility in a table, allowing users to find and work with specific subsets of data. Breadcrumbs provide a hierarchical navigation system representing the current filter, enabling users to easily manage and adjust their filtering criteria.

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    Key Features

    • Filter Application: Users can apply, modify, create, and save filters based on specific conditions.
    • Breadcrumb Navigation: Breadcrumbs display the active filter conditions, enabling quick navigation. Clicking on a breadcrumb or its separator can remove specific conditions or reset the filter entirely.
    • Default Visibility: By default, non-roles users cannot see breadcrumbs or filters. Administrators can configure visibility for unauthenticated users via script includes.
    • Right-click Options: Users can access additional functions through a right-click on a breadcrumb, including opening results in a new window, copying the URL, or copying the encoded query.
    • Quick Filters: Users can quickly filter lists by right-clicking on fields for options like Show Matching or Filter Out.
    • Filter Management: Administrators can manage filters in the Filters table, including creating, editing, and deleting them.

    Key Outcomes

    Utilizing filters and breadcrumbs enhances data management efficiency within ServiceNow. Users can expect improved navigation through lists, streamlined data retrieval, and the ability to save and reuse specific filters based on their access rights. These functionalities ultimately help in maintaining an organized and effective workflow when working with large datasets.

    A filter is a set of conditions applied to a table to help you find and work with a subset of the data in that table.

    You can apply, modify, create, and save filters. A hierarchical list of conditions at the top of the table — breadcrumbs — indicates the current filter.

    Breadcrumbs offer a quick form of filter navigation. They are ordered from left to right. The left condition is the most general, and the right condition is the most specific. Clicking a breadcrumb removes all the conditions to its right. Clicking the condition separator (>) before a condition removes only that condition.

    By default, a user with no roles cannot see the breadcrumbs or filter. Administrators can configure the ESS portal to allow unauthenticated users to see breadcrumbs and filters by using a script include. For more information on using script includes to suppress breadcrumbs and filters, see Use script includes to suppress filters and breadcrumbs .

    Figure 1. Breadcrumbs, List v2
    Breadcrumbs.
    Examples:
    • Clicking Priority = 2 removes the condition Category = Software and returns all active incidents with a priority of 2.
    • Clicking the condition separator (>) before Priority = 2 removes the condition Priority = 2 and returns all active incidents in the software category.
    • Clicking All removes all conditions and returns all incidents in the system.

    Click a breadcrumb to refresh the list of records and show the latest information for those records.

    Note:
    Clicking the New button in a filtered list automatically applies the same filter to the new record. For example, clicking New in the Resolved Incidents list opens a record preset with State set to Resolved. In a list filtered for active, priority 1 incidents, clicking New opens a record preset with Active selected and Priority set to 1 - Critical.

    You can change the preset values on the form as needed. If there is a field you do not want to have populated in this way, you can add the following dictionary attribute to the field: ignore_filter_on_new=true.

    Additional navigational functions are available when you right-click a breadcrumb.

    Table 1. Breadcrumb right-click options
    Option Description
    Open new window Opens the results list for the breadcrumb in a new tab or window.
    Copy URL Copies the URL to the clipboard for the results list of the breadcrumb. Follow browser instructions if browser security measures restrict this function.
    Copy query Copies the encoded query to the clipboard for the breadcrumb. You can use this query in the URL of an instance or in the reference qualifier field of a dictionary entry.

    For example, if you are viewing a list of all active incidents with a high or medium impact, right-click the breadcrumb and copy the query active=true^impact=1^ORimpact=2. You can append this query to the end of the instance URL as follows:

    https://{instance_name}/incident_list.do?sysparm_query=active=true^impact=1^ORimpact=2

    This selection is not available for the All breadcrumb.