Form Designs in ServiceNow
ServiceNow’s form design capabilities allow administrators and designers to create tailored,
intuitive forms for collecting and managing data. Forms are the primary interface for users to
view, edit, and create records within ServiceNow. They can be designed and customized
through different tools: Form Layout, Form Designer, and the more recent Form Builder.
1. What Is a Form in ServiceNow?
• A form represents a single record from a table, displaying its fields in a structured
manner. When you access an incident, a user profile, or change request, you’re
interacting with a form configured for that table.
• Forms are automatically generated when a new table is created, but can be heavily
customized to suit business needs.
2. Form Layout vs. Form Designer vs. Form Builder
Feature Form Layout Form Designer Form Builder (New)
Advanced visual builder, all-i
Interface Simple, list-based editor Drag-and-drop, visual editor one
Quick field or section Complete structure/visual Powerful end-to-end
Best For updates organization configuration
Add/remove/rearrange Position, split, add sections, Drag fields, sections, formatt
Capabilities fields tabs etc.
Recent releases (Washington
Availability Classic UI Classic + Now Experience UIs Xanadu etc.)
• Form Layout: Fast way to add/remove/rearrange fields and create or rename
sections.
• Form Designer: Drag-and-drop interface for complex layouts, columns, tabs, and
section arrangement.
• Form Builder: Enhanced no-code/low-code tool that unifies layout, field properties,
and additional logic in a single interface.
3. How to Design or Modify a Form
Basic Steps:
1. Open a record from the desired table.
2. Right-click the form header (or use the options menu), then select:
• Configure → Form Layout for quick edits.
• Configure → Form Design for a visual, drag-and-drop experience.
• Use Form Builder if available for the most flexibility.
In the design interface, you can:
• Add new fields and sections.
• Rearrange fields by dragging them.
• Split layout into one column, two columns, or tabs.
• Set field properties: mandatory, read-only, default values, help annotations.
• Group related fields in logical sections for better user experience.
• Add related lists to show related records, if applicable.
Example: Place “Short Description,” “Caller,” and “Category” in the left column; “Priority,”
“Assignment Group,” and “Assigned To” on the right, with “Work notes” and related lists
below.
4. Best Practices for ServiceNow Form Design
• Put important fields at the top for easy access.
• Use clear section names and group logically related fields.
• Avoid clutter: Use tabs or collapsible sections for lengthy forms.
• Be consistent: Keep layouts uniform across similar record types.
• Limit mandatory fields to essentials only.
• Use reference fields instead of free text for related data.
• Leverage UI Policies and scripts for dynamic visibility, mandatory, and read-only logic.
• Never duplicate fields on the same form.
• Keep field choices minimal and relevant.
• No more than 40 fields per form for usability and performance.
5. Practical Tips
• Preview and test after every change—check in both desktop and mobile.
• Take user feedback to iteratively improve your forms.
• Make use of annotations and tooltips for guidance.
• Use the native platform font (Lato) for consistency.
• For advanced needs, use Form Builder to manage all aspects of forms, from layout to
logic, in one place.
Summary Table: Key ServiceNow Form Design Options
Tool Use Case Key Features
Form Layout Fast field/section changes Simple editor, rearrange fields/sections
Form Designer Detailed visual editing Drag-and-drop, columns, sections, tabs
Form Builder End-to-end configuration Enhanced drag-and-drop, field/logic edits
By thoughtfully designing forms in ServiceNow, you ensure better data quality, more efficient
workflows, and a more user-friendly experience for all users.
