Action parameters

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated July 31, 2025
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    Summary of Action parameters

    Action parameters in ServiceNow APIs specify the actions to take when JSON object parameters are part of HTTP GET or POST requests. They differ from data parameters by triggering specific API behaviors such as querying, inserting, updating, or deleting records. These parameters can also appear as fields within the JSON object.

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    Key Action Parameters and Their Uses

    • sysparmaction: Defines the action the API performs. Valid values include:
      • getKeys: Queries a table with an encoded query and returns a comma-delimited list of sysid values.
      • getRecords: Queries a table and returns all matching records and their fields.
      • get: Retrieves a single record by specifying its sysid.
      • insert: Creates one or more new records.
      • insertMultiple: Creates multiple new records.
      • update: Updates existing records filtered by an encoded query.
      • deleteRecord: Deletes a single record by sysid.
      • deleteMultiple: Deletes multiple records filtered by an encoded query.
    • sysparmquery: An encoded query string used to filter records for get, getRecords, update, or deleteMultiple actions.
    • sysparmview: Specifies a form view to customize returned fields in get and getRecords calls. If invalid or missing, all active dictionary fields are returned.
    • sysparmsysid: Targets a specific record by its sysid for get or delete actions.
    • sysparmrecordcount: Limits the number of records returned, capped by system property glide.processor.json.rowlimit.
    • displayvalue: Controls how reference fields are returned:
      • true: Returns display values instead of sysids for all references.
      • false: Default, returns sysids only.
      • all: Returns both sysid and display value.
    • displayvariables: Boolean flag to retrieve all variables attached to a record during get or getRecords calls.

    Practical Benefits for ServiceNow Customers

    Understanding and using these action parameters enables customers to precisely control CRUD operations on ServiceNow tables via REST APIs. They can efficiently query specific records, customize returned data views, limit record counts for performance, and manage references with meaningful display values. This facilitates integration, automation, and data manipulation tailored to business needs.

    Action parameters are separate and different from data parameters because they specify the action to take when the JSON object parameter is part of an HTTP GET or POST request.

    The parameters can also be specified as a field in the supplied JSON object. They have the effect of triggering an action in the case of sysparm_action, or filtering the results of an update or query in the case of sysparm_query.

    sysparm_action

    The following are the valid values for sysparm_action and the corresponding action triggered by the API.
    Table 1. Data Retrieval
    Method Summary Description
    getKeys Query the targeted table using an encoded query string and return a comma delimited list of sys_id values.
    getRecords Query the targeted table using an encoded query string and return all matching records and their fields.
    get Query a single record from the targeted table by specifying the sys_id in the sysparm_sys_id URL parameter, and return the record and its fields.
    Table 2. Data Modification
    Method Summary Description
    insert Create one or more new records for the table targeted in the URL.
    insertMultiple Create multiple new records for the table targeted in the URL.
    update Update existing records in the targeted table in the URL, filtered by an encoded query string.
    deleteRecord Delete a record from the table targeted in the URL by specifying its sys_id in the sysparm_sys_id URL parameter.
    deleteMultiple Delete multiple records from the table targeted in the URL, filtered by an encoded query string.

    sysparm_query

    Specify an encoded query string to be used in get, getRecords, update or deleteMultiplesysparm_action value.

    sysparm_view

    Specify a form view to customize the return values for get and getRecords function calls. When using a view, the query returns only the fields defined in the view, including referenced values. If there is no view name, or if the view name is not valid, then the query returns all field names that are marked active in the dictionary.

    sysparm_sys_id

    Specify a target sys_id during a get or delete function call (sysparm_action value).

    sysparm_record_count

    Specify an integer value to limit the number of records retrieved for this request. Note that this value is capped by the glide.processor.json.row_limit system property.

    displayvalue

    Get the display value of a reference field, if any are in the record. For example, the Incident record can have an assigned_to field that is a reference to a user record. Instead of sending the sys_id of the user record, the user name is sent.

    The displayvalue parameter can have three values: true, false, or all.
    • true: All the references fields show the display value instead of sys_id.
    • false (default): All reference fields show sys_ids.
    • all: The display value and the sys_id are shown. For example, the assignedto field in the Incident record is sent back as assigned_to:1234556, dv_assigned_to:Fred Luddy.

    displayvariables

    Set this boolean value to true during a get or getRecords function call to retrieve all variables attached to this record.