Unique record identifier (sys_id)

A unique 32-character GUID (Globally Unique ID), called a Sys ID (sys_id) identifies each record in an instance.

When created within the application, sys_id values are unique. The ServiceNow AI Platform and database should manage all operations on sys_id values. The same sys_id value is never generated twice, which ensures that every record created in every table in every instance in the world has a unique identifier. If two records have the same sys_id value, it occurs as a result of the following situations:

• If a record with the sys_id was copied to the other at the database level outside of the ServiceNow AI Platform.

• If a record with the sys_id was copied using an Update Set or via XML, its sys_id is the same.

Note:

A new record has a sys_id of -1, and once inserted, it is assigned a new sys_id. The sys_id is not meant to show as a field on a form or as a column in a list. To learn more, see the Users are unable to add the sys_id field to a form or list view [KB0690876] article in the Now Support Knowledge Base.

You can access the sys_id from a record URL or by using a script.

• To access the sys_id from the URL, navigate to any record, right-click the header bar, and select Copy URL. The sys_id is inside of the URL, after the parameter sys_id=.
• To access the sys_id using a script, use one of the following options.
  • Find the sys_id of a record in a business rule (or any other server-side JavaScript) by dot-walking from the GlideRecord.

    var id = current.sys_id;

  • Find the sys_id of a record in client-side JavaScript using g_form.getUniqueValue().

    function onLoad() {
        var incSysid = g_form.getUniqueValue();
        alert(incSysid);
    }