Activate fuzzy numeric search in AI Search

  • Release version: Yokohama
  • Updated January 29, 2026
  • 2 minutes to read

    • Activate fuzzy numeric search to let users find indexed records by their Number field values without needing to enter alphabetic prefixes or leading zeroes.

    Before you begin

    Role required: admin

    About this task

    This task is optional. You only need to perform it if you want to activate the fuzzy numeric search feature in AI Search.

    Fuzzy numeric search allows numerical search terms to match indexed ServiceNow AI Platform® records by their Number field values. The fuzzy matching compares the numeric search term with each indexed record's Number, ignoring its alphabetical prefix and any leading zeroes. As an example, if you index knowledge article and problem records, a search for 23583 might return knowledge article KB00023583 and problem PRB00023583 as search results.

    When fuzzy numeric search is activated, AI Search checks all-numeric search terms for fuzzy numeric matches when you search and when computing auto-complete suggestions for your search terms. For details on implementing and using auto-complete suggestions, see Auto-complete suggestions in AI Search applications.
    Important:

    Fuzzy numeric search only searches records from numbered tables. These are tables with Number fields that have prefixes defined in the Number [sys_number] table. To learn about record numbering and the Number table, see Record numbering.

    Child tables that inherit the Number field from their parent table can't be searched using fuzzy numeric search. Only tables that have their own Number field defined work with this feature.

    Fuzzy numeric search only finds numeric field values in predefined fields named number. It doesn't search custom fields or predefined fields with other names.

    To learn more about searching with fuzzy numeric search, see Fuzzy numeric search in AI Search.

    Fuzzy numeric search includes an indexing component which is activated by default and a query-time component which is deactivated by default. Admins can activate the query-time component by changing the value of the glide.ais.query.enable_fuzzy_number_match system property.

    Procedure

    1. Navigate to the System Property [sys_properties] table's list view.
      1. Select All.
      2. In the Filter field, enter sys_properties.list.
      3. Press Enter.
    2. Search for a system property record with name glide.ais.query.enable_fuzzy_number_match.
      • If a system property record with this name exists, open the record by selecting it.
      • If no system property record with this name exists, select New, then enter glide.ais.query.enable_fuzzy_number_match as the new system property's Name and select true | false as its Type.
    3. In the System Property form's Value field, enter true.
    4. Save the modified System Property record by selecting Submit or Update.

    Result

    Fuzzy numeric search is activated for users in all of your instance's AI Search applications.