Search sources in AI Search

  • Release version: Washingtondc
  • Updated July 28, 2025
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Search Sources in ServiceNow AI Platform

    Search sources in ServiceNow AI Platform allow you to define and configure searchable content for user search experiences. By creating search sources, you can specify indexed sources and apply filter conditions to tailor search results according to user needs.

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    Key Features

    • Indexed Source Reference: Each search source references an indexed source, enabling queries to return all records from that source by default.
    • Filter Conditions: Optional filters can be applied to restrict the records returned based on specific criteria. Only indexed fields can be used for filtering; referenced record fields must first be indexed.
    • Dynamic Filtering: You can implement static and dynamic filters for more specific results, such as showing only records assigned to the current user.
    • Linking to Search Profiles: Search sources must be linked to search profiles to make their content accessible to users. Multiple search sources can be linked to a single profile.
    • Viewing and Editing: Search sources can be viewed or modified through various application modules, providing easy management of your searchable content.

    Key Outcomes

    By effectively configuring search sources, you enhance the search experience for users by delivering relevant content based on their specific queries. This customization not only improves usability but also ensures that users can quickly find the information they need within the ServiceNow platform.

    Define search sources to make your searchable content available in search experiences. Choose an indexed source and configure optional filter conditions to limit the content that users can search.

    Search source structure

    A search source includes two elements:
    • A reference to an indexed source. By default, search queries using the search source can return all records from the referenced indexed source. For more information on indexed sources, see Indexed sources in AI Search.
    • An optional set of filter conditions applied to the indexed source's records. Indexed source records must pass all of these filter conditions to be returned as search results for queries using the search source.

    You can define multiple search sources that reference the same indexed source, specifying distinct filter conditions for each.

    Filter conditions

    To limit the set of indexed source table records that AI Search returns as search results, you can apply filter conditions to your search source.
    Note:
    Search source filter conditions can only operate on source record fields that are indexed. Fields on referenced records aren't indexed by default. To use a referenced record field in a search source filter condition, you must first configure indexing for the field in the indexed source. For details on this procedure, see Enable indexing of referenced table fields for an AI Search indexed source.

    You can use static and dynamic filter conditions to filter search source records. As an example, you could apply a dynamic [Assigned to] [is (dynamic)] [Me] user filter to make your search source only return results corresponding to indexed source table records assigned to the search user.

    Search sources don't support any of the following dynamic filter options:

    For more information on filter conditions, see Filters. To learn about dynamic filter options and their associated scripts, see Create a dynamic filter option.

    Linking search sources to search profiles

    To make your search source's content available to users, link it to one or more search profiles. You can link multiple search sources to a single search profile.

    For more information, see Link a search source to a search profile.

    Viewing search sources

    You can view or edit search sources from any of the following application modules:
    • To view all defined search sources, navigate to All > AI Search > Search Experience > Search Sources.
    • To view search sources that reference a particular indexed source, navigate to All > AI Search > AI Search Index > Indexed Sources. Open the indexed source and select its Search Source Mappings related list.
    • To view search sources linked to a particular search profile, navigate to All > AI Search > Search Experience > Search Profiles. Open the search profile and select its Search Sources related list.