Data items
Summarize
Summary of Data items
Data items in ServiceNow are queries on selected tables that provide the data displayed on screens within your instance. These data items enable screens, such as lists or embedded segments, to retrieve and present records dynamically from the underlying tables. For example, a list of incidents uses a data item querying the incident [incident] table.
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Data item types
- Standard data items: Query a single table without parameters but can include filters to return specific results, such as all high priority changes from the change request [changerequest] table.
- Parametrized data items: Include one or more parameters to customize queries dynamically. Parameters allow you to pass variables, like the current logged-in user, to tailor the data shown, such as incidents assigned to that user.
- Relationship data items: Required for embedded lists within record screens. These define the relationship between the primary record screen’s table and the related table that holds the embedded list records.
Special use data item configurations
- Append encoded query: A special type of standard data item configured with an instance relative URL to enable navigation from analytics previews or chart headers to a list of records.
- Grouped list data item: Used specifically for grouped list screens, allowing any data item type to be grouped by a field for aggregated or categorized display.
Practical application for ServiceNow customers
Understanding these data item types lets you configure screens that accurately reflect your data needs, whether displaying filtered lists, personalized views using parameters, or complex embedded lists. Special configurations like append encoded queries and grouped lists enhance navigation and data presentation capabilities, supporting more interactive and insightful user experiences.
Data items provide the data presented in a screen.
Data items are queries on a selected table that bring back data. Screens, which display data from your instance, get their information from data items. For example, if your application contains a list of incidents, the list would use a data item representing records from the incident [incident] table.
Data item types
There are three different types of data items.
- Standard data items
A standard data item is used to return data from a single table. A standard data item does not include parameters, but can include a filter to return a set of results from the queried table. For example, a standard data item could query all high priority changes from the change request [change_request] table.
- Parametrized data items
A parametrized data item is used to perform a query containing one or more parameters to return data. Parameters are used to pass in variables to your queries. For example, you could use a parameter to include the value of the logged in user so that you can show a list of all incidents assigned to that user.
- Relationship data items
Relationship data items are necessary for embedded lists. Embedded lists are lists that can be embedded within a record screen. Record screens can have one or more embedded segments. An embedded list is a type of segment that can be embedded. When you configure an embedded list, it's important to be familiar with the original record screen table. It's also important to understand the table that contains the records that appear in the embedded list. To create an embedded list, you need a relationship data item. For details about creating a relationship data item, see Configure a relationship data item for an embedded list.
Special use data item configurations
The following data items do not fit into the previous categories, and are used only in the cases detailed in the following sections.
- Append encoded query
To navigate from a single score analytics preview or from a chart screen header function to a list of records, you need to configure a special data item using an instance relative URL. This is a standard data item that uses a different type of condition. Find more information about how to configure an append encoded query in Chart screen.
- Grouped list data item
A grouped data item is used exclusively for a grouped list screen. Any data item, standard and relationship, parametrized or not, can be grouped by a field. Find more info about how to configure grouped list data items at Grouped list screen.