Associate a function with a location in the app

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated July 31, 2025
  • 5 minutes to read
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    Summary of Associate a function with a location in the app

    In ServiceNow Mobile App Builder, each function you create for an app must be associated with a specific location within the app interface. This association defines where and how the function appears and operates for the end users, enabling tailored navigation and interactions. You can assign functions to various locations such as top menus, swipes, fields, and more to enhance user experience and functionality across different screens.

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    Function Locations and Their Uses

    • Launcher Screen Header Functions: Allow navigation to specific parameterized record screens (e.g., user profiles, carts) from the launcher header.
    • Chart Header Functions: Enable users to view records represented in a chart by tapping the chart header function icon.
    • Field Functions: Allow users to change field values directly on details screens by adding functions to specific screen fields.
    • Footer Functions: Add actionable buttons at the bottom of various screens (record details, embedded sections, maps, lists) to trigger functions.
    • On Tap Functions: Trigger functions when users tap on records within a list, commonly used for navigation to other screens.
    • Top Menu Functions: Suitable for less frequent actions or when multiple actions exceed footer capacity, added to the top menu of a screen.
    • Quick Action Functions: Provide shortcuts accessible via icons on launcher screens—Android users see a plus icon, iOS users see an ellipsis icon.
    • Swipe Functions: Enable swipe gestures on list or map screens to initiate actions; supports leading (right swipe) and trailing (left swipe) functions with up to three per direction.
    • Top Icon Functions: Adds a single button in the app bar on record screens for quick access to an action or item.
    • Custom Map Bottom Drawer Functions: Specific to Indoor Wayfinding custom map screens; provide one or more shortcut actions accessible via a button or a "more" menu icon.

    Practical Considerations for ServiceNow Customers

    • Functions must be uniquely instantiated for each location; previous function instances cannot be reused.
    • Display labels for each function instance define the user-visible name of the function.
    • Function placement details are typically auto-populated based on the screen context, ensuring accurate association.
    • Configuring functions appropriately enhances navigation, user interaction, and access to key app features.
    • Each function location supports specific screen types and user interactions, so choosing the right location aligns with intended user workflows.

    Expected Outcomes

    By associating functions with appropriate app locations, ServiceNow customers can create intuitive and efficient mobile app experiences. Users gain easy access to navigation, data actions, and shortcuts tailored to their context, improving productivity and engagement within the app environment.

    For each function you create for an app, you must associate it with a specific location. You can associate most functions with a top menu, a swipe, or a specific field.

    Launcher screen header functions

    Launcher screen header functions allow your users to navigate to a specific parametrized record screen. Some common examples include navigating to a users profile, or navigating to a cart.

    For details on creating parametrized record screens, see Configure a parameterized record screen.

    For details on how to use these record screens in a launcher screen header, see Configure a launcher screen header.
    Figure 1. Launcher screen header function
    Launcher screen.

    Chart header functions

    Chart header functions enable your users to navigate to a specific set of records from a chart screen. When a user is viewing a chart, they can click on the chart header function (chart function icon) on the top-right corner of the screen, to view a list of all the records that are within the chart. .
    Figure 2. Chart header function
    Chart screen with header functions.

    Field functions

    Field functions enable your end users to change the value of a field. Field functions only apply to items on the details screen in a displayed area.

    1. In Mobile App Builder, open a details screen that you want to add a field function to. Make sure that there are screen fields in your details screen that you can add field functions to, and a Table selected.
    2. For each screen field on your details screen, you can add a field function under Field function instances field. You can't reuse previous function instance records.
    3. In the Display label field of the new Function instance record, add the name of the function to display.
    4. Select Save.

    For more information on how to create field functions, see Configure a details screen for a record screen.
    Figure 3. Field function
    Incident with the caller field highlighted.

    Footer functions

    Footer functions enable your end users to add an action on the bottom of a record screen.

    Supported screens for the footer function are: record details screen, record embedded section screen, dynamic segments in a record screen, map screen, and list screens.

    1. In Mobile App Builder open a screen that you want to add a footer function to.
    2. In the Footer function instance section, select New to create a function instance. You cannot reuse previous function instance records.
    3. In the Display label field of the new Function instance record, add the name of the function to display.
    4. Complete all the other required inputs for the record, then select Save.

    For more details on how to create a footer function, see Use your navigation function as a footer function.

    		 Screen with three footer functions.

    On tap functions

    Use the on tap function instance to trigger a function when a user taps on a record in a list. This function location can, for example, navigate a user to another screen when they tap a record. On tap functions are configured on list item config records, which are used in any screen that needs to display a list of records.
    1. In Mobile App Builder open a list screen that you want to add an on tap function.
    2. Select the List item config record field. For example, this field is found in a stream record within a screen segment record.
    3. In the list item config record, locate the On tap field and select Use a function instance.
    4. Populate the list item config record with the navigation function that you want to use.
    5. Select Save.
    		 Navigation function used to direct users from one list to another.

    Top menu functions

    Use top menu function location for less frequently used actions, and on record screens where you have more actions than fit conveniently in the footer.

    1. In Mobile App Builder open a screen that you want to add a top menu function to.
    2. In the Top menu function instances section, select New to create a new function instance. You can't reuse previous function instance records.
    3. In the new Function instance record, populate the Display label with the words you want displayed on your function. In the Function placement section, the fields are auto-populated based on your screen record’s details.
    4. Select Save after filling in all other required inputs on each record.

    For more details on how to create a top menu function, see Use your navigation function as a top menu selection.
    Figure 4. Top menu functions
    Top menu for an incident which includes the following functions: Reassign, Resolve, Add comments, and Edit.

    Quick action functions

    Use the quick action item location to provide your users with a shortcut to an item or action in your launcher screens. Users access quick actions by tapping the quick action icon.
    • For Android users quick actions appear under a plus icon (Android quick action icon) at the bottom-right corner of the launcher screen.
    • For iOS quick actions appear under the ellipsis icon (iOS quick action icon).

    For details on configuring quick actions, see Quick actions.

    		 Quick actions.

    Swipe functions

    The swipe function location applies to screens that display a list, including a map screen. Swipe functions can be initiated from two directions, swiping to the right initiates leading swipe function and swiping to the left initiates trailing swipe functions. You can display three functions per direction.
    1. Navigate to a screen that you want to add a swipe function to. Navigate to that list screen’s List item config record. For example, this field is found in a stream record within a screen segment record.
    2. Select which direct to initiate the swipe functionality:
      • Select Leading swipe function instances for users to initiate swipe functions dragging to the right from the edge of a card.
      • Select Trailing swipe function instances for users to initiate swipe functions dragging to the right from the edge of a card.
    3. In the new function instance record, populate the Display label with the words to display on your function. In the Function placement section, the fields are auto-populated based on your screen record’s details.
    4. In the Function section, select the function record you would like to use, or select New. This function determines the behavior that the system performs when a user taps the footer function.
    5. Select Save after filling in all other required inputs on each record.

    For more details on how to create a standard function, see Configure a navigation to a screen.
    Figure 5. Swipe functions
    Swipe function from the list view with options to Resolve or Reassign an incident.

    Top icon functions

    The top icon function is a button location on the record screen top app bar. Use the top icon action to provide your users with an additional shortcut to an item or to actions in your record screen.

    Only one top icon function can be added to each record screen.
    Figure 6. Top icon function
    Image of top icon function displaying in a mobile screen

    Custom map bottom drawer functions

    The custom map bottom drawer functions apply to the custom map screen for Indoor Wayfinding experiences. Use the custom map bottom drawer functions to provide your users with a shortcut to actions from Indoor Wayfinding experiences. One or more custom map bottom drawer functions can be added to a custom map screen.

    If only one custom map bottom drawer function is configured, users see the action button for the function with the configured icon and labels. If more than one function is configured, all the functions appear under the more menu icon (more menu icon).
    Figure 7. Custom map bottom drawer function
    Custom map bottom drawer function button.