I85PREP
⌘ K
ServiceNow CAD study materials
ServiceNow CAD study resources

ServiceNow CAD practice questions

One question at a time. Build your ServiceNow CAD understanding.

First 50 of 196 questions. Each one lists the choices, the correct answer, and an explanation. The checker at the top of this page saves progress in this browser when it is available.

Continue in the practice tool above to load more questions, 50 at a time.

Question 1Platform Overview and Application Design

Which table stores the individual user records of a ServiceNow instance?

  1. sys_glide_object
  2. sys_user Correct answer.
  3. sys_user_group
  4. sys_user_role

Explanation

User records live in the sys_user table. Groups are stored in sys_user_group, and the roles that can be granted to users or groups are stored in sys_user_role.

Question 2Platform Overview and Application Design

In the ServiceNow data model, what is a record?

  1. A bundle of related tables shipped as an application
  2. A column that holds one value for every row
  3. A script that executes when a form is submitted
  4. A single row in a table, composed of fields Correct answer.

Explanation

A table is made up of rows and columns; each row is a record and each column is a field. Records hold the actual data, while field definitions live in the dictionary.

Question 3Platform Overview and Application Design

Which field type stores a link to a single record on another table?

  1. String
  2. Journal
  3. Reference Correct answer.
  4. Integer

Explanation

A reference field holds the sys_id of a record on another (or the same) table and renders it as a clickable link. String and integer fields store plain values, and journal fields store work notes and comments.

Question 4Platform Overview and Application Design

Custom tables created in the global scope are named with which prefix by default?

  1. u_ Correct answer.
  2. x_
  3. sys_
  4. sn_

Explanation

Tables created manually in the global scope receive the u_ prefix. The sys_ prefix is reserved for base-system tables, and x_ identifies tables owned by a scoped application.

Question 5Platform Overview and Application Design

Table B extends table A. Which statement describes the result?

  1. Table B inherits A's fields and may add fields of its own Correct answer.
  2. Table B receives a snapshot copy of A's existing records
  3. Table B cannot be extended by any further table
  4. Table A is removed once table B is created

Explanation

Extension creates an inheritance relationship: the child table stores its own records but exposes the parent's fields plus any fields defined on the child. The parent table and its records are unaffected.

Question 6Platform Overview and Application Design

Which table is the parent that Incident, Problem, and Change Request all extend?

  1. Request
  2. Task Correct answer.
  3. cmdb_ci
  4. sys_audit

Explanation

Task is the base table for work items and supplies common fields such as number, assignment, state, and SLA support. Incident, Problem, and Change Request all extend Task.

Question 7Platform Overview and Application Design

What is an application menu?

  1. A rule that restricts access to a table
  2. A scheduled job that runs inside an application
  3. A list of users who may open an application
  4. The top-level heading in the navigator that groups modules Correct answer.

Explanation

An application menu is the top level of the navigation hierarchy and contains modules. Each module opens a specific page such as a list or a form.

Question 8Platform Overview and Application Design

Which mechanism records configuration changes so they can be moved from one instance to another?

  1. Scheduled jobs
  2. Access control lists
  3. Import sets
  4. Update sets Correct answer.

Explanation

Update sets capture configuration changes made in one instance so the same customizations can be applied to another instance. Import sets move data, not configuration.

Question 9Platform Overview and Application Design

Which statement about a scoped application is correct?

  1. It can modify any global table without extra configuration
  2. It must extend the Task table in order to store data
  3. Artifacts are isolated, and global artifacts must be marked accessible Correct answer.
  4. It cannot contain custom tables of its own

Explanation

A scope is a namespace that isolates its artifacts from other scopes. Crossing a scope boundary requires explicit configuration, such as marking the target artifact accessible from the requesting scope.

Question 10Platform Overview and Application Design

Which table stores the definition of every field in the instance, including its type and default value?

  1. sys_dictionary Correct answer.
  2. sys_db_object
  3. sys_ui_element
  4. sys_choice

Explanation

The dictionary (sys_dictionary) holds one entry per field, describing its type, length, default, and other attributes. sys_db_object stores table-level metadata instead.

Question 11Platform Overview and Application Design

Without writing script, a designer wants a field to become mandatory and read-only when Priority is 1. Which feature should be used?

  1. Access control list
  2. Scheduled job
  3. UI policy Correct answer.
  4. Business rule

Explanation

UI policies apply client-side form behavior declaratively and can make fields mandatory, read-only, or visible based on conditions. They are the no-code counterpart to an onChange client script.

Question 12Platform Overview and Application Design

How is a many-to-many relationship between two tables implemented?

  1. By creating a third table with reference fields to both tables Correct answer.
  2. By adding two reference fields to the same table
  3. By making both tables extend a common parent
  4. By using a choice field that lists both tables

Explanation

A many-to-many relationship needs a mapping (intersection) table whose records each point to one record in each of the two related tables. A single reference field can express only a one-to-many relationship.

Question 13Platform Overview and Application Design

An administrator displays incident.caller_id.email on a form. What is this technique called?

  1. Dot-walking Correct answer.
  2. Delegation
  3. Coalescing
  4. Glide aggregation

Explanation

Dot-walking traverses a reference field to read a value from the related record, chaining table.field.field. It works in scripts, conditions, and field references on forms.

Question 14Platform Overview and Application Design

Which record represents a single navigable link that opens a list, a form, or another page?

  1. UI action
  2. Application menu
  3. Record producer
  4. Module Correct answer.

Explanation

Modules sit inside application menus and define the destination page, such as a table list or a specific form. The menu is only the container for those modules.

Question 15Platform Overview and Application Design

Where are the selectable options of a choice field stored?

  1. sys_dictionary
  2. sys_db_object
  3. sys_ui_list
  4. sys_choice Correct answer.

Explanation

Each option of a choice field is a record in sys_choice, keyed by the table and element it belongs to. The dictionary defines the field itself, but not its option values.

Question 16Platform Overview and Application Design

Which configuration runs on the server and therefore applies equally to form saves, imports, and REST API calls?

  1. UI action
  2. Client script
  3. UI policy
  4. Business rule Correct answer.

Explanation

Business rules execute on the server for every insert, update, delete, or query, regardless of the channel that triggered it. Client-side features only run in the browser.

Question 17Platform Overview and Application Design

A designer wants a button on the Incident form that runs script when clicked. Which record type should be created?

  1. UI policy
  2. Business rule
  3. UI action Correct answer.
  4. Client script

Explanation

UI actions define buttons, links, and context-menu items on forms and lists, and they can run client-side or server-side script. They are the standard way to add a clickable control.

Question 18Platform Overview and Application Design

Which mechanism decides whether a specific user may read or write a particular field or record?

  1. Access control list (ACL) Correct answer.
  2. UI policy
  3. Dictionary override
  4. Data policy

Explanation

ACLs secure tables, records, and fields by evaluating rules against the user's roles and conditions. They are the authoritative security layer on both client and server.

Question 19Platform Overview and Application Design

An administrator adds a new field to the Task table. Which tables gain that field?

  1. Only the Task table
  2. Only custom tables that extend Task
  3. Task and Incident, but no other table
  4. Task and all tables that extend it Correct answer.

Explanation

Fields added to a parent table become available to every child table through inheritance. Because Incident, Problem, and Change Request all extend Task, they all expose the new field.

Question 20Platform Overview and Application Design

Which of the following is captured in an update set?

  1. Configuration records such as business rules and form layouts Correct answer.
  2. The rows of data in a custom table
  3. Audit records generated by field changes
  4. User records created during testing

Explanation

Update sets record configuration artifacts, not transactional data. Records in business tables, user records, and audit entries are not part of an update set.

Question 21Platform Overview and Application Design

A developer makes a field mandatory with an onChange client script. A record is later created through the REST API without that field. What happens?

  1. The record is rejected, because UI policies also apply to API calls
  2. The record is rejected, because client scripts run on the server for all transactions
  3. The record is saved, but only after the client script re-runs
  4. The record is saved, because client scripts run only in the browser Correct answer.

Explanation

Client scripts execute in the user's browser and never run for REST, import, or other non-form transactions. To enforce a rule in every channel, the logic must be server-side, such as a business rule or a data policy.

Question 22Platform Overview and Application Design

A scoped application must read records from a global table. What is required?

  1. The scoped application must first be converted to global scope
  2. Nothing, since scoped applications reach all global tables
  3. An ACL must be created for the Everyone role
  4. The table must be made accessible from the application's scope Correct answer.

Explanation

Scope isolation blocks access to artifacts in other scopes unless access is explicitly granted, for example by designating the target table as accessible from the requesting scope. Only then can the scoped application query it.

Question 23Platform Overview and Application Design

A field inherited from a parent table needs a different default value and label on one child table only. What should be used?

  1. A UI policy
  2. A dictionary override Correct answer.
  3. A choice list
  4. A transform map

Explanation

A dictionary override changes attributes such as default value, label, or choice of an inherited field on a specific child table while leaving the parent definition untouched.

Question 24Platform Overview and Application Design

Why would a designer build a custom table that extends Task instead of a standalone table?

  1. Extending Task prevents other tables from referencing it
  2. Extending Task removes the need for access controls
  3. The table inherits task fields and behaviors such as assignment and SLA support Correct answer.
  4. Extending Task automatically generates a database view

Explanation

Extending Task gives the new table the common work-item fields and behaviors, so it integrates with assignment, approvals, SLAs, and task-based reporting without rebuilding them.

Question 25Platform Overview and Application Design

Where is the set of columns shown in a table's list view configured?

  1. In the form layout
  2. In the field's dictionary entry
  3. In the application menu
  4. In the list layout Correct answer.

Explanation

The list layout determines which columns appear and in what order for a list of records. The form layout governs the record form instead, and the dictionary stores field attributes.

Question 26Platform Overview and Application Design

In the ServiceNow platform, what is an instance?

  1. A logical grouping of users who share the same set of roles
  2. A reusable application that can be installed from the ServiceNow Store
  3. A dedicated deployment of the platform with its own database and settings Correct answer.
  4. A single record that stores one configuration setting for the platform

Explanation

An instance is a complete, isolated deployment of the ServiceNow platform, including its own database, configurations, and data. Customers typically run separate instances for development, testing, and production so changes can be promoted between them.

Question 27Platform Overview and Application Design

Which statement describes the sys_id field that exists on every table?

  1. It holds a unique 32-character identifier generated for each record Correct answer.
  2. It holds the value of the table's display field for the current record
  3. It records which user last updated the record and at what time
  4. It stores the human-readable number shown to end users for each record

Explanation

Every record is assigned a system-generated, unique 32-character GUID stored in sys_id. This value identifies the record independently of its number or display value and is used in references, URLs, and integrations.

Question 28Platform Overview and Application Design

What is a database view in ServiceNow?

  1. A read-only rendering of a form that prevents any edits
  2. A read-only virtual table that joins columns from two or more tables Correct answer.
  3. A temporary table built in memory each time a list loads
  4. A saved filter on one table that limits which records a user can see

Explanation

A database view combines columns from multiple tables into a single read-only table-like structure that can be queried and reported on. It does not duplicate data; it presents joined data at query time and cannot be written to directly.

Question 29Platform Overview and Application Design

Most ServiceNow tables contain an Active field. What is the intended effect of clearing it on a record?

  1. The record is copied into an archive table and locked against further edits
  2. The record is hidden only from users who lack the admin role
  3. The record is permanently removed from the table at the next cleanup job
  4. The record remains in the database but is excluded from most list queries Correct answer.

Explanation

The Active flag provides a soft-delete pattern: the row stays in the table and can still be referenced, but default queries and list filters typically exclude inactive records. Reactivating the record restores it to normal visibility without any data loss.

Question 30Platform Overview and Application Design

A company has two business units that must not see each other's records even though both use the same Incident table and the same roles. Which capability is designed to handle this without custom scripting on each table?

  1. Domain separation, which partitions data and configuration by domain Correct answer.
  2. A read-only ACL applied to the Incident table for the smaller unit
  3. Access Control Lists conditioned on the caller's department
  4. A separate scoped application built for each business unit

Explanation

Domain separation lets one instance host multiple tenants by tagging data and configuration with a domain and restricting visibility to the user's domain. It applies consistently across tables and is the platform feature built for multi-tenant isolation.

Question 31Data Model and Database Design

Which table stores the metadata definitions for tables, such as a table's name, label, and parent table?

  1. sys_dictionary
  2. sys_choice
  3. sys_glide_object
  4. sys_db_object Correct answer.

Explanation

Table metadata, including a table's label, name, and parent, is stored in sys_db_object. Field-level metadata lives in sys_dictionary, not in the table definition record.

Question 32Data Model and Database Design

Which field is the unique 32-character identifier that exists on every table?

  1. number
  2. name
  3. sys_class_name
  4. sys_id Correct answer.

Explanation

Every table includes a sys_id field, a 32-character GUID that uniquely identifies the record. It is generated by the platform and is not the same as the human-readable number field.

Question 33Data Model and Database Design

Which field type stores the sys_id of a record on another table?

  1. Choice
  2. Glide List
  3. String
  4. Reference Correct answer.

Explanation

A reference field stores the sys_id of a record on another table. It does not store the full referenced record or its display value.

Question 34Data Model and Database Design

Which table is the parent table for Incident, Problem, and Change Request?

  1. sys_user
  2. task Correct answer.
  3. cmdb_ci
  4. sys_db_object

Explanation

Incident, Problem, and Change Request all extend the task table, inheriting fields such as number, assignment, and state.

Question 35Data Model and Database Design

What is the primary purpose of extending a table?

  1. It copies existing records from the parent table into the child table.
  2. It creates a many-to-many relationship with the parent table.
  3. It inherits the parent table's fields and can add its own fields. Correct answer.
  4. It prevents the child table from using the parent's business rules.

Explanation

Extending a table creates a child table that inherits the parent's fields and behavior, and the child can add its own fields. It does not copy records.

Question 36Data Model and Database Design

On an extended table such as task, which field records the name of the table that actually stores a given record?

  1. number
  2. sys_class_name Correct answer.
  3. table_name
  4. sys_id

Explanation

For tables in a hierarchy, sys_class_name stores the name of the table that actually holds the record. This lets a query on task identify whether a row is an incident, problem, or another child class.

Question 37Data Model and Database Design

A reference field named caller_id on the Incident table points to sys_user. What does caller_id.email do?

  1. It copies the email value into the incident record.
  2. It creates a reference from email to user.
  3. It returns all users with the same email.
  4. It reads the email field from the referenced user record. Correct answer.

Explanation

Dot-walking follows a reference field to read a field on the referenced record. caller_id.email returns the email of the user referenced by caller_id.

Question 38Data Model and Database Design

A choice field stores the value 1 when a user selects the label High. What is saved in the database?

  1. High
  2. Both the label and the value
  3. The sys_id of the selected choice record
  4. 1, the stored choice value Correct answer.

Explanation

A choice field stores the choice value, not the label. The label is for display and can be changed without altering stored data.

Question 39Data Model and Database Design

A field inherited from a parent table must be mandatory only on one child table. What should you create?

  1. A choice list on the child table
  2. A dictionary override on the child table for that field Correct answer.
  3. A new field on the child table with the same name
  4. A UI policy that applies to the child form

Explanation

A dictionary override on the child table changes attributes such as mandatory or default for an inherited field without affecting the parent or sibling tables.

Question 40Data Model and Database Design

A GlideRecord query on the task table returns records from incident and problem. Why?

  1. Child tables in a table hierarchy are included when querying the parent. Correct answer.
  2. GlideRecord automatically unions unrelated tables.
  3. Child tables are always empty.
  4. The task table stores a copy of every child record.

Explanation

In a table hierarchy, querying the parent table includes records stored in its child tables. sys_class_name identifies the actual child table for each returned record.

Question 41Data Model and Database Design

Which table stores the membership relationship between users and groups?

  1. sys_user_group
  2. sys_user
  3. sys_user_grmember Correct answer.
  4. sys_user_role

Explanation

sys_user_grmember is the intersection table that links users to groups, with reference fields for user and group.

Question 42Data Model and Database Design

In a scoped application with the vendor prefix acme, which name follows the platform convention for a custom table?

  1. sys_acme_asset
  2. x_acme_asset Correct answer.
  3. u_acme_asset
  4. acme_asset

Explanation

Custom tables in a scoped application use the x_<scope>_<name> convention. A global-scope custom table uses the u_ prefix.

Question 43Data Model and Database Design

When a reference field displays a record, which field on the referenced table supplies the text shown?

  1. The first string field on the table
  2. The number field on the table
  3. The field marked as the display field for that table Correct answer.
  4. The sys_id field

Explanation

A reference field displays the value of the referenced table's display field. The display field is a dictionary attribute, not necessarily the first string field.

Question 44Data Model and Database Design

Where are choice list options for a field stored?

  1. sys_glide_object
  2. sys_dictionary
  3. sys_db_object
  4. sys_choice Correct answer.

Explanation

Choice options are stored as records in sys_choice, keyed by table and element. The field's dictionary record references the choice list but does not hold each option.

Question 45Data Model and Database Design

Which design represents a one-to-many relationship from Department to User?

  1. A Glide List on Department containing user sys_ids
  2. A many-to-many table linking Department and User
  3. A reference field on Department pointing to User
  4. A reference field on User pointing to Department Correct answer.

Explanation

A one-to-many relationship places a reference field on the many side, so each user points to one department. The department does not store a list of users.

Question 46Data Model and Database Design

Which table contains one record for each field on each table?

  1. sys_db_object
  2. sys_choice
  3. sys_documentation
  4. sys_dictionary Correct answer.

Explanation

sys_dictionary holds one record per field per table, including the field name, type, and label. It is the core metadata table for field definitions.

Question 47Data Model and Database Design

Which pair of fields is automatically maintained by the platform on every table to record creation and update timestamps?

  1. sys_mod_count and sys_id
  2. sys_created_on and sys_updated_on Correct answer.
  3. sys_created_by and sys_updated_by
  4. sys_class_name and sys_id

Explanation

The platform maintains sys_created_on and sys_updated_on automatically to record when a record was created and last updated. These are system fields present on tables.

Question 48Data Model and Database Design

Which setting can a dictionary override change on an inherited field?

  1. The sys_id of the parent record
  2. The field type of the inherited field
  3. The default value of the inherited field Correct answer.
  4. The column name of the inherited field

Explanation

A dictionary override can change attributes such as default value, mandatory, and read-only for an inherited field on a child table. It cannot change the field's type or column name.

Question 49Data Model and Database Design

In CMDB, how are CI classes such as cmdb_ci_server and cmdb_ci_database related?

  1. They are linked by a many-to-many table only.
  2. They are unrelated tables with no shared fields.
  3. They extend the cmdb_ci base class. Correct answer.
  4. They both extend the task table.

Explanation

CMDB CI classes form a hierarchy rooted at cmdb_ci, and specific classes such as server and database extend that base. This lets queries on cmdb_ci include all CI types.

Question 50Data Model and Database Design

What is the effect of creating a unique index on a field?

  1. The field becomes mandatory on all forms.
  2. The field automatically becomes a reference.
  3. The field is converted to a choice list.
  4. The database rejects duplicate values for that field. Correct answer.

Explanation

A unique index enforces uniqueness at the database level, so duplicate values for the indexed field are rejected. It does not control form behavior such as mandatory.