Working with metadata app file categories in the ServiceNow Studio Navigator

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated July 31, 2025
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Working with Metadata App File Categories in the ServiceNow Studio Navigator

    ServiceNow Studio provides a platform for managing various types of metadata, including automations, integrations, and user interface files. The File Categories section in the Navigator panel allows users to quickly access and view metadata organized by categories and subcategories.

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    Key Features

    • Access to Metadata: Users can expand categories to see subcategories, such as actions, flows, and playbooks under the Automation category.
    • Integrated Viewing: Selecting a sub-type displays all related metadata, allowing users to open specific files in Workflow Studio.
    • Metadata Tables: The main metadata table is sysmetadata, with various types extending this table, such as syshubflow for flows and sub-flows.
    • Grouping Options: Users can group or ungroup metadata categories in the File Categories menu for easier navigation.

    Key Outcomes

    By effectively using the File Categories section, ServiceNow customers can efficiently navigate and manage their app files by metadata type. This structured approach enables streamlined access to essential components within their applications, enhancing productivity and organization.

    ServiceNow Studio enables you to work with all types of metadata that the ServiceNow AI Platform supports, from automations and integrations to user interface files.

    Accessing metadata for your ServiceNow Studio apps

    The File Categories section of the Navigator panel enables you to quickly view all types of metadata that you have access to, arranged by taxonomy category. Expanding each metadata file category shows its subcategories. For example, expanding the Automation category provides access to view all of the sub-types of automation metadata, such as actions, flows, and playbooks.
    Note:
    To see a complete list of each category's file types and information about each file, see ServiceNow Studio Navigator panel taxonomy.
    Figure 1. Metadata sections in the File Categories section of the Navigator
    Expanded AI section of the File Categories section of the Navigator

    When you select a sub-type of an expanded file category, ServiceNow Studio displays all of the metadata of that type, which you can select to view. For example, selecting Flow under the Automation file category displays a list of all flows that you have access to. Select one to open it in Workflow Studio in an integrated tab in ServiceNow Studio.

    Note:
    The source table for each sub-category of metadata file type appears when you select the category. Select Open list to see a complete list of all the files of that type.
    Figure 2. Table for app files
    The base table for the app file type appears at the top of the list

    For more information on using the Navigator panel to find app files by their metadata category, see Find an app or app file using the Navigator panel.

    Metadata table and its extended tables

    Metadata lives as application files in their corresponding tables on the ServiceNow AI Platform. The main metadata table is sys_metadata, but specific types of metadata extend the sys_metadata table. For example, flows and sub-flows use the extended sys_hub_flow table.

    See ServiceNow Studio Navigator panel taxonomy for a list of available metadata and corresponding tables that extend sys_metadata.

    Metadata by category

    Each file category has different types of metadata available for automations, data, integration, mobile app builder, UI, and other categories. For a list of each type of file, its primary table, primary builder experience, and more, see ServiceNow Studio Navigator panel taxonomy.

    Note:
    You can group or ungroup the metadata categories in the File Categories menu by selecting the more options icon (more options icon) and selecting or deselecting Show parent categories.
    Table 1. Categories of metadata
    Category Metadata sections
    AI
    • Agentic Workflow
    • AI Agent
    • Skill
    Automation
    • Automation
    • Schedules
    Data
    • Client development
    • Data
    • MID Server
    • Server development
    Integrations
    • Inbound integration
    • Outbound integration
    • Properties
    Mobile
    • Mobile App Builder
    • Mobile Card Builder
    UI
    • Content
    • User interface
    Other
    • Natural Language Understanding (NLU)
    • Reporting
    • Security