---
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
---
# Intelligent Search for CMDB
# Intelligent Search for CMDB {#ariaid-title1}
* Release version: Australia
*
* Updated March 12, 2026
*
*  5 minutes to read
Use everyday natural language query (NLQ) in a search string to query for a set of CIs
in the CMDB. Intelligent Search for CMDB, parses, resolves ambiguities, and converts your search
string into a valid CMDB query. Complex search strings open fully constructed on a canvas of CMDB
Query Builder where you can continue and refine, or run.
Intelligent Search for CMDB is supported only on English language instances and isn't supported when the instance preferred language is set to a language other than English.
## Integration with CMDB Workspace {#intelligent-search-cmdb__section_fdp_fkd_gsb}
Intelligent Search for CMDB is integrated into the Home view in the CMDB Workspace store app. For more information, see:
* [Home view in CMDB Workspace](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/VeO12Hy74cUZKHigPa0qlw "Home view is the default view in CMDB Workspace. It shows important tasks that you should tend to, various counts for activities in CMDB such as new CIs, CMDB Health aggregations, and various charts. The Home view also provides several links with immediate access to key CMDB tools.") (Intelligent Search section) for details about how to use Intelligent Search, sample search strings, and helpful tips.
* [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.") for additional details about CMDB Workspace.
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## Integration with Service Graph Workspace {#intelligent-search-cmdb__section_w5q_fb3_zhc}
Intelligent Search for CMDB is integrated into the Search and Explore view in the Service Graph Workspace store app. For more information, see:
* [Explore and Search view in Service Graph Workspace](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/h5rYdNKQJXbQAQx6w3Gj5g "Search through CMDB tables without having detailed knowledge of the CMDB data model by using contexts that are mapped to CI classes as navigation. Use natural language with the AI-driven search to search the CMDB and related data."), Search tab for details about how to use Intelligent Search, sample search strings, and helpful tips.
* [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.") for additional details about Service Graph Workspace.
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## Integration with CMDB Query Builder {#intelligent-search-cmdb__section_ixd_dkd_gsb}
Intelligent Search for CMDB is integrated with the [CMDB Query Builder](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/uLyJjmkHqIHkDiHLMf8PGA "The CMDB Query Builder enables you to build complex infrastructure and service queries that span multiple CMDB classes, non-CMDB tables, and that involve many CIs that are connected by different relationships.") in the ServiceNow AI Platform. This integration is controlled by the system property
glide.cmdb.query.nlq.activated, which is set to
true by default. Intelligent Search for CMDB lets you use natural
language processing in the CMDB Query Builder to find CIs and their relationships using
Intelligent Search for CMDB functions.
## Using Intelligent Search for CMDB {#intelligent-search-cmdb__section_yb4_1kd_gsb}
Intelligent Search is tailored to the CMDB, searching only through the CMDB class hierarchy
for tables, and for CIs and their relationships.
Use the Intelligent Search search field to construct a search string using everyday natural
language. Your queries can span multiple CMDB classes and involve many CIs that are connected by
different relationships. After resolving any ambiguities with table names or relationship types,
Intelligent Search converts your search string into a query that the CMDB can run. The CMDB
query is constructed dynamically as you type into the search box and spell checker is applied if
needed. A dynamic list of relevant suggestions appears as you type, with items such as table
names, matching single words or part phrases in the typed-in text.
Use Intelligent Search:
* Search tips: Shows details and tips about the usage, and examples for single and multi-table search, advanced filtering, and relationships in Intelligent Search. The Relationships tab contains a link to the [CMDB Implicit Relationships](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/OB6nz9XxyG05iE450g6zPQ#intelligent-search-cmdb__section_CMDB_Implicit_Relationships) table.
* Search: Depending on whether the search string is already fully
converted into a valid CMDB query and whether the search is for a single or multiple
tables.
* If the search string has no ambiguities with the table name or relationships, then the
query runs and the results appear in a list view format.
If the constructed CMDB query contains more than a single table, then the View in Query Builder button appears. Click the button to open the [CMDB Query Builder](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/uLyJjmkHqIHkDiHLMf8PGA "The CMDB Query Builder enables you to build complex infrastructure and service queries that span multiple CMDB classes, non-CMDB tables, and that involve many CIs that are connected by different relationships.") with your
query fully constructed on the Query Builder canvas. You can use the Query Builder to
continue editing the query.
* If there are any ambiguities with table names or relationship types in the search string, then the search string can't be converted into a valid CMDB query. In this case, the Refine your query dialog box appears to continue and parse your search string into a valid CMDB query. The dialog box contains suggested synonyms and labels for phrases in your search string. Use the drop-down lists to select the synonyms that match your intended search and then click Go to run the query.
* If Intelligent Search is unable to convert your search string into a valid CMDB query, then clicking Search does not generate any query results. Instead, a feedback form appears. Fill out the form and click Submit Feedback to send your feedback to ServiceNow analysis.
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* Results Feedback: Submit feedback to ServiceNow analysts, to express your assessment of the results. Choose descriptions that capture any gap between the results and your expected results, and add any helpful details.
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## Sample searches {#intelligent-search-cmdb__section_utg_frq_mvb}
When you click the search box, the drop-down list of pre-defined sample searches appears.
The list consists of more common searches, or searches that are more difficult to construct
such as searches that involve application services. Run any of those searches to get
started.
* Sample searches are stored in the NLQ Sample Search \[sn_cmdb_ws_nlq_sample_search\] table
* Referenced tables are stored in the NLQ Sample Search Table \[sn_cmdb_ws_nlq_sample_search_table\] table
{#intelligent-search-cmdb__ul_vwx_y2y_1wb}CMDB Admins (sn_cmdb_admin user role) can modify a sample search by directly editing its record in the NLQ Sample Search table. Click All and then in the Filter navigator, enter sn_cmdb_ws_nlq_sample_search.list. In the NLQ Sample Searches list view edit the record for a search that you want to modify.
Any modification to sample searches is reflected in CMDB Workspace, Service Graph Workspace, and the CMDB Query Builder.
## Synonyms {#intelligent-search-cmdb__section_zmf_qmh_hsb}
The NLQ Synonym \[nlq_synonym\] table is pre-populated with synonyms for natural language
strings for CMDB table and column names, and relationships. This table is used to match
natural language search words to the CMDB query language. For example, the phrase 'linux
server' has synonyms such as 'Linux Server', 'Server', and 'Virtual Machine Instance'.
For details about viewing and adding synonyms customized to your business needs, see [NLQ synonyms](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=create-nlq-synonym&version=australia&pubname=australia-intelligent-experiences&ft:locale=en-US).
## CMDB Implicit Relationships {#intelligent-search-cmdb__section_CMDB_Implicit_Relationships}
You can help Intelligent Search find more results by defining some of the relationships
between classes as implicit relationships. Implicit relationships can be useful in
queries that involve service offering and application services.
NLQ admins can create new implicit relationships by navigating to AllNLQCMDB Implicit Relationships.
An implicit relationship defines the relationship between two tables and includes any filters you want to apply. When creating an implicit relationship, you set the following items:
* From table (from_table): The class that acts as the parent
* Filters: Conditions that are applied to the columns of the from_table
* To table: The class that acts as the child
* Relationship: How the from_table interacts with the to_table. For example, Contains: Contained by means the from_table contains the to_table
* Skipped table: The class that is implied and not captured by the CMDB Query Builder
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For example, in CMDB Query Builder, you want to see your service offerings that have had a P1
incident in the last 10 days. However, if you were to type show me all business service offerings with p1 incidents in the last 10 days, NLQ wouldn't understand
the relationship.
Implicit relationships are stored in the NLQ CMDB Implicit Relationship \[nlq_cmdb_implicit_relationship\] table and are used in the CMDB Workspace and in Service Graph Workspace, and if integrated, also in CMDB Query Builder.
For more information about NLQ in the ServiceNow AI Platform, see [Natural Language Query (NLQ)](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=natural-language-query&version=australia&pubname=australia-intelligent-experiences&ft:locale=en-US).
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