Check box

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated July 31, 2025
  • 2 minutes to read
    • Summarize
    Summarized using AI
    This content was generated using new OpenAI-powered functionality. Results are provided on an as is basis and are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete.

    Summary of Check box

    The check box variable in ServiceNow enables users to select or clear options easily. It is commonly used to capture user consent or preferences, such as agreeing to terms on a form. You can make a check box mandatory by enabling theSelection Requiredoption, which prompts an alert if users attempt to submit without selecting the box.

    Show full answer Show less

    Key Features

    • Mandatory Check boxes: Setting a check box as mandatory requires users to select it before form submission. This is useful for consent or agreement confirmations.
    • Grouping of Check boxes: Consecutive check box variables automatically form a group, sorted by their order. You can add a label variable at the start of the group to customize the group label; otherwise, the default label is "Options".
    • Group Behavior: If any check box in the group is mandatory, the entire group becomes mandatory. An asterisk () appears next to the group label, and users must select at least one check box in the group.
    • Visibility Rules: Hiding the group label hides the entire group. If all but one check box in a mandatory group are hidden and unselected, the last visible check box must remain visible and be selected to satisfy the mandatory requirement.
    • Service Portal: To enforce mandatory selection in a group, at least one check box variable in the group must be set as mandatory. Setting the group label as mandatory does not apply mandatory logic to the group.
    • Catalog Builder Behavior: Two or more consecutive check boxes create a virtual container grouping them. Only check box variables can be included in this group, and new check boxes added immediately after the group are automatically included.
    • Pricing Configuration: Under the Type Specifications tab, you can define prices for check box variables in multiple currencies and pricing models, including Calculated, Fixed, and Multiple.

    Practical Implications for ServiceNow Customers

    Using check box variables allows you to design forms that require explicit user choices, such as agreements or selections of multiple options. Grouping consecutive check boxes improves organization and enforces collective validation rules, ensuring data integrity. Mandatory settings and visibility rules help manage user interactions effectively, especially in Service Portal and catalog environments. Additionally, pricing configurations enable flexible cost management linked to check box selections.

    The check box variable lets you enable and disable options by selecting and clearing it.

    To make a check box mandatory, select the Selection Required option when you create the variable. For example, use this option to require users to select the I agree check box for an agreement form. If users try to submit the agreement form without selecting the check box, an alert message is displayed to tell users that they must select the check box.

    A group of check box variables is created when you create consecutive check box variables. These check box variables are sorted by their order within the group. If you want to define a custom label for the group of check boxes, create a label variable at the start of the consecutive check box variables. The label is then considered a part of this group and acts a label of the group. If there is no custom label, check boxes are grouped under an Options label by the application.

    In a group of check box variables:
    • If any check box variable in the group is mandatory, the entire group becomes mandatory irrespective of the visibility of the mandatory check box variable. An asterisk (*) is then displayed next to the group label and you must select at least one of these check boxes.
    • Hiding the label hides the entire group.
    • If all other check box variables of a mandatory check box group are hidden and not selected, the following scenarios are applicable:
      • The group remains mandatory as long as there is one check box in the group that is visible and not selected.
      • The last check box of this group cannot be hidden if it is not selected.

    In Service Portal, to make a group of check box variables mandatory, set at least one of the check box variables as mandatory. While defining the label for a group of check boxes, setting a label mandatory does not make the group of check box variables mandatory.

    In catalog builder, the following scenarios are applicable:
    • If there are two consecutive check boxes, then a virtual container is created for a group of check boxes. Only check box variable types can be added inside the group
    • Even if a check box variable is added immediately after a group of check boxes, it is automatically added to the group.
    Under the Type Specifications tab, you can specify the price in different currency types. Also, you can configure the price in the following pricing models:
    • Calculated
    • Fixed
    • Multiple
    For information on the pricing models, see Price fields .
    Figure 1. Example: check box variable
    A check box variable