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

 Release :

    - australia

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Australia ServiceNow AI Platform Capabilities

ft:clusterId :

    - platcap

bundleId :

    - platcap

workflow :

    - Platform


---

# Dependency Views map

# Dependency Views map {#ariaid-title1}

* Release version: Australia
* 
* Updated March 12, 2026
* 
* ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 2 minutes to read

ServiceNow® Dependency Views
maps graphically display CIs that support application or business services and the relationships
between the CIs.

The [CMDB Workspace](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/BpRE~ioD6YSXTWPbjQaAkQ "The CMDB Workspace is an efficient, central, and modernized way for you to work. Use CMDB Workspace to search and explore the CMDB, examine health and recent activities, and access CMDB dashboards and tools to support tasks in your organization.") and [Service Graph Workspace](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/Nb5bq_n0Dn7SIWZT4V~Hmw "The Service Graph Workspace is an efficient, central, and modernized way for you to work. Use Service Graph Workspace to search and explore the CMDB, examine health and recent activities, and access insightful dashboards and tools to support tasks in your organization.") store apps provide the [Unified Map](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/uaUm2Dch3_PpxiTsa8WlUw "The Unified Map feature displays a graphical hierarchical map of the CMDB — CIs and the connections between them. Unified Map combines some of the capabilities of Dependency Views and of Service Mapping into a single map experience.") feature as an alternative to using Dependency Views. Unified Map combines the capabilities of Dependency Views and [Service Mapping](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=c_ServiceMappingOverview&version=australia&pubname=australia-it-operations-management&ft:locale=en-US) into a single map experience.

A ServiceNow service (application
service or business service) is work or goods that are supported by an IT infrastructure. For
example, delivering email service to an employee can require services such as email servers, web
servers, and the work to configure the user's account.

A Dependency Views map has one starting point, called the root CI or root node of the map. The
root CI is surrounded by a darker frame that repaints itself with a pulsing effect drawing the
attention to the root CI. The maps can show both upstream and downstream dependencies for the
root CI. By default the Dependency Views map displays 3 levels, both upstream and downstream
relationships. Administrators can configure the number of levels displayed. The map collapses and
expands clusters to make them easier to view. By default, clusters are collapsed.

In a Dependency Views map, map indicators indicate if a CI has any active, pending issues. You can investigate the tasks that are connected to a CI to get more details. When you return to the map from another form, the system
restores the last map viewed, using the default filter and layout settings. When you click the icon (![Open Dependency Views map for the CI.]()) on a CI record or on a task record that identifies a CI, the map opens.

Many of the relationships in map are created through the discovery process. You can also create, define, and delete CI relationships in the map. You can display the map from different perspectives and open specific records that
relate to configuration items. The system refreshes the map automatically to reflect changes to the CMDB.  
Note:  
CIs not extended from the Configuration Item \[cmdb_ci\] table, are not displayed in Dependency Views maps and in CI relation formatters.

The Dependency Views module is active in all instances, and includes demo data.  
Figure 1. Dependency Views sample map

When you click the map icon \[![Display Dependency Views map for a CI.]()\] on a CI record or on a task record that identify a CI, a map opens.

## Roles

Users with the itil and ecmdb_admin roles can view maps and perform all actions in the map.
Actions include access to the map views and saved filters, both from the lists in the map and
from the Saved Filters module.