Glide API Notes: GlideSystem & GlideRecord

This is a focused reference for GlideSystem (gs) and GlideRecord, the core server-side APIs in ServiceNow. Use it for study, hands-on practice, or quick lookup.

Essentially it is a JavaScript class that can be used anywhere in the platform where server-side JavaScript is accepted.

• Business Rules
• UI Actions

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1. GlideSystem (gs)

Purpose:

• Provides system-level utilities and context information.
• Mostly used in server-side scripts (Business Rules, Script Includes, Scheduled Scripts, Flow Script Steps).

Runs:

• Server

Common Methods & Use Cases:

Method	Description	Example
gs.log(message, source)	Log info to system logs	gs.log('Incident closed', 'IncidentBR');
gs.info(message)	Log info (simpler)	gs.info('Process started');
gs.warn(message)	Log a warning	gs.warn('High load');
gs.error(message)	Log an error	gs.error('Failed update');
gs.getUser()	Current user object	var user = gs.getUser();
gs.getUserID()	Current user's sys_id	var user = gs.getUserID();
gs.getUserName()	Current user's username	var name = gs.getUserName();
gs.getUserDisplayName()	Current user's display name	var display = gs.getUserDisplayName();
gs.nowDateTime()	Current date-time	var dt = gs.nowDateTime();
gs.daysAgo(n)	Date n days ago	var weekAgo = gs.daysAgo(7);
gs.nil(object)	Checks if object is null/undefined	if (gs.nil(current.short_description)) {...}
gs.addInfoMessage(msg)	Adds a message to UI	gs.addInfoMessage('Update successful');
gs.addErrorMessage(msg)	Adds an error message to UI	gs.addErrorMessage('Cannot save record');
gs.sleep(ms)	Pause execution (server)	gs.sleep(500);
gs.nil(object)	Check if there is no value	gs.nil(current.location);

Note: See the ServiceNow docs to review the GluideDate and GluideDatsTime API's to see other methods used to manipulate dates.

Common Mistakes / Gotchas:

• Using gs.* on client scripts (won’t work)
• Overusing logs in large batch scripts (can slow down execution)
• Forgetting that gs.addInfoMessage() only appears in UI, not API calls

1-Min Example:

// Log user info when incident is closed
if (current.state == 7) {
  // Closed
  gs.log(
    "Incident " + current.number + " closed by " + gs.getUserName(),
    "IncidentBR",
  );
}

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Scoped GlideSystem:

You must use Scoped APIs when developing scripts for scoped applications. There are error messages to inform users if there are using a method that is in the wrong scope.

Examples:

• debug()
• erro()
• info()
• warn()
• isDebugging()

Navigate to System Logs > System Log > Errors to see output

2. GlideRecord (gr)

Purpose:

• Server-side API to query, create, update, and delete records in tables.

Runs:

• Server only (Business Rules, Script Includes, Scheduled Scripts, Flow Script Steps)

Note: Can be called on the client side but there might be some performance issues

Basic Workflow:

var gr = new GlideRecord("incident"); // Table name
gr.addQuery("priority", 1); // Query condition
// add other query conditions as needed
gr.query(); // Execute query
while (gr.next()) {
  // Iterate results
  gs.log(gr.number);
}

// Query: SELECT * FROM Incident WHERE priority = 1

Common Methods & Use Cases:

Method	Description	Example
new GlideRecord(tableName)	Instantiate GlideRecord for a table	var gr = new GlideRecord('incident');
addQuery(field, value)	Add a query condition	gr.addQuery('state', 1);
addEncodedQuery(query)	Add encoded query	gr.addEncodedQuery('priority=1^active=true');
query()	Execute query	gr.query();
next()	Move to next record	while(gr.next()) {...}
get(sys_id)	Retrieve a record by sys_id	gr.get('abc123');
insert()	Insert new record	gr.insert();
update()	Update current record	gr.update();
deleteRecord()	Delete current record	gr.deleteRecord();
setValue(field, value)	Set field value	gr.setValue('short_description', 'Updated');
getValue(field)	Get field value	var desc = gr.getValue('short_description');
autoSysFields(false)	Skip system fields on insert/update	gr.autoSysFields(false);
addOrConditon(condition)	Add a second condition to a select	myObj.addQuery('catagory', '=', 'Hardware').addOrContion('priority', '!=', 1)

Common Mistakes / Gotchas:

• Using GlideRecord on client scripts (won’t work)
• Forgetting query() before iterating results
• Using update() on a record that wasn’t retrieved
• Not respecting permissions when manipulating records
• Not using GlideAggregate to check if > 100 rows are returned or for tables that grow continuously.

1-Min Example:

// Close all high-priority incidents
var gr = new GlideRecord("incident");
gr.addQuery("priority", 1);
gr.addQuery("state", "!=7");
gr.query();
while (gr.next()) {
  gr.state = 7; // Closed
  gr.update();
  gs.log("Closed " + gr.number);
}

// Example of addOrCondition
var gr = new GlideRecord("incident");
gr.addQuery("priority", 1);
gr.addQuery("state", "!=7").addOrContion("priority", "!=", "2");
gr.query();
while (gr.next()) {
  gr.state = 7; // Closed
  gr.update();
  gs.log("Closed " + gr.number);
}

Note: You can build and addEncodedQuery() from the list view query selector. When you are done with your query, right click and you can copy the query.

GlideRecordSecure performs the same actions as GlideRecord and enforces ACL rules If a record cannot be read do to ACLS, the column will be set to NULL

Tips for Distinguishing GlideSystem vs GlideRecord Methods

• GlideSystem: System info, logs, user info, dates, messages. Never touches tables directly.
• GlideRecord: Table data access and manipulation. Always involves a specific table.
• Mental shortcut: gs = system utilities, GlideRecord = database CRUD.
• Both are server-side only. Use GlideAjax to call server from client.

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Glide Query

**An alternative to GlideRecord that make take a bit longer that Glide Record

Note: To improve performance, reduce the number of loops in the code.

• can be users to perform CRUD, written in JS, and uses GlideRecord behind the scenes
• Has three principles

Fail Fast

• Run into errors ASAP and provide a feedback loop
• Field checking
• Choice Checking
• Type Checking

Be Javascript

• Behave like a JS library
• Returns a JS Objects
• Has a JS Stack Trace

Be Expressive

• Do more with less lines of code
• Stream Class
• Optional Class

Use this document alongside hands-on practice. Fill in examples from your dev instance to reinforce learning and retention.