ServiceNow Encoded Query Translator

Q: What is the difference between ^OR and ^NQ?

^OR joins one condition to the condition right before it, as in "priority is 1 or 2". ^NQ starts a completely new query, so the result is every record that matches the first group of conditions or the second group, as in "(active and P1) or (unassigned)".

Q: How do I use an encoded query in a GlideRecord script?

Call gr.addEncodedQuery('active=true^priority=1') before gr.query(). Building the filter in the list view first and copying the query avoids typos in field names and operators. The translator also writes the equivalent addQuery() lines if you prefer them.

Q: How do I filter on "Me" or "One of my groups"?

Use dynamic filters: assigned_toDYNAMIC90d1921e5f510100a9ad2572f2b477fe means "assigned to me", and assignment_groupDYNAMICd6435e965f510100a9ad2572f2b47744 means "assignment group is one of my groups". A script value such as assigned_to=javascript:gs.getUserID() also works.

Live

Turn ^-separated encoded queries into plain English, edit them visually, and generate GlideRecord code and URLs.

Cheat sheet Report an issue

Input

Encoded query, list URL or REST URL

Examples

Parsed 6 conditions · 1 sort

Plain English

whereActiveistrue

and

any of

Priorityis1 - Critical

Priorityis2 - High

andAssigned tois empty

andShort descriptioncontainsemail

andOpenedis after7 days ago

sortCreated (descending)

Builder

Edits rewrite the query above

where

and

andno value

and

sort

Output

Table

Instance · optional

background script · js

var gr = new GlideRecord('incident');
gr.addEncodedQuery('active=true^priority=1^ORpriority=2^assigned_toISEMPTY^short_descriptionLIKEemail^opened_atRELATIVEGT@day@ago@7^ORDERBYDESCsys_created_on');
gr.query();
while (gr.next()) {
    gs.info(gr.getValue('number') || gr.getUniqueValue());
}

Paste into System Definition › Scripts – Background on a sub-production instance to test.

What is an encoded query?

ServiceNow stores list filters as a compact string called an encoded query. Copy one from any list by right-clicking the filter breadcrumb and choosing Copy query. Scripts use the same format through GlideRecord.addEncodedQuery(), and REST calls through sysparm_query.

Pro tip: build the filter in the list view first, copy the query, and paste it into addEncodedQuery(). It's faster and less error-prone than chaining addQuery() calls.

Cheat sheet

^: AND
^OR: OR with the previous condition
^NQ: Start a new query; results are combined
ORDERBY / ORDERBYDESC: Sort ascending / descending
LIKE: Contains
STARTSWITH / ENDSWITH: Starts / ends with
IN / NOT IN: Is one of / is not one of
ISEMPTY / ISNOTEMPTY: Is empty / is not empty
^^: A literal ^ inside a value

How to translate a ServiceNow encoded query

Paste the query. A raw encoded query, a sysparm_query value, a list URL or a full nav_to.do link all work.
Read it in plain English. Each condition is shown as field, operator and value, grouped the way ServiceNow evaluates ^OR and ^NQ.
Edit it visually. Change fields, operators and values without hand-editing carets.
Copy what you need. GlideRecord code, a list URL, a Table API URL or a shareable link back to this page.

ServiceNow encoded query operators

Every condition is written as field + OPERATOR + value, with no spaces between them. These are the operators you will meet in list filters, scripts and REST calls.

Operator	Meaning	Example
`=`	is (equals)	`priority=1`
`!=`	is not	`state!=7`
`LIKE`	contains	`short_descriptionLIKEvpn`
`NOT LIKE`	does not contain	`short_descriptionNOT LIKEtest`
`STARTSWITH`	starts with	`numberSTARTSWITHINC00`
`ENDSWITH`	ends with	`[email protected]`
`IN`	is one of (comma-separated)	`stateIN1,2,3`
`NOT IN`	is not one of	`categoryNOT INhardware,network`
`ISEMPTY`	is empty	`assigned_toISEMPTY`
`ISNOTEMPTY`	is not empty	`assignment_groupISNOTEMPTY`
`ANYTHING`	any value, including empty	`cmdb_ciANYTHING`
`EMPTYSTRING`	is an empty string	`correlation_idEMPTYSTRING`
`< <= > >=`	less / greater than (numbers and dates)	`reassignment_count>2`
`BETWEEN`	is between two values	`sys_created_onBETWEENjavascript:gs.dateGenerate('2026-01-01','00:00:00')@javascript:gs.dateGenerate('2026-01-31','23:59:59')`
`ON / NOTON`	is (not) on a date or period	`sys_created_onONToday@javascript:gs.beginningOfToday()@javascript:gs.endOfToday()`
`RELATIVEGT / RELATIVELT`	is after / before a relative time	`sys_updated_onRELATIVEGT@hour@ago@24`
`MORETHAN / LESSTHAN`	more / less than a time span from another date field	`resolved_atMORETHANopened_at@day@after@3`
`SAMEAS / NSAMEAS`	same as / different from another field	`opened_bySAMEAScaller_id`
`GT_FIELD / LT_FIELD`	greater / less than another field	`sys_updated_onGT_FIELDsys_created_on`
`DYNAMIC`	matches a dynamic filter, such as Me	`assigned_toDYNAMIC90d1921e5f510100a9ad2572f2b477fe`
`INSTANCEOF`	is a class or any of its child classes	`sys_class_nameINSTANCEOFcmdb_ci_computer`
`VALCHANGES / CHANGESTO`	value changes (business rule and notification conditions)	`stateCHANGESTO6`

Joining conditions: ^, ^OR, ^NQ and ORDERBY

^OR binds tighter than ^, so active=true^priority=1^ORpriority=2 reads as "active and (priority 1 or 2)". Use ^NQ when you need OR between whole groups.

Syntax	Meaning	Example
`^`	AND: both conditions must match	`active=true^priority=1`
`^OR`	OR with the condition right before it	`priority=1^ORpriority=2`
`^NQ`	New query: OR between whole groups of conditions	`priority=1^NQassigned_toISEMPTY`
`ORDERBY / ORDERBYDESC`	Sort ascending / descending by a field	`active=true^ORDERBYDESCsys_created_on`
`GROUPBY`	Group results (lists and reports)	`active=true^GROUPBYassignment_group`
`^EQ`	End-of-query marker added by some lists; safe to ignore	`active=true^EQ`
`^^`	A literal ^ inside a value	`short_descriptionLIKEA^^B`

Common ServiceNow encoded query examples

Copy-ready queries for everyday filters. Open any of them in the translator to read or adapt it.

My open incidents, recently updated first active=true^assigned_toDYNAMIC90d1921e5f510100a9ad2572f2b477fe^ORDERBYDESCsys_updated_on Translate Open P1 and P2 incidents, newest first active=true^priorityIN1,2^ORDERBYDESCsys_created_on Translate Unassigned work in my groups active=true^assigned_toISEMPTY^assignment_groupDYNAMICd6435e965f510100a9ad2572f2b47744 Translate Records created today sys_created_onONToday@javascript:gs.beginningOfToday()@javascript:gs.endOfToday() Translate Updated in the last 24 hours sys_updated_onRELATIVEGT@hour@ago@24 Translate Mentions VPN in the short description or description short_descriptionLIKEvpn^ORdescriptionLIKEvpn Translate Critical, or open and unassigned (two queries) priority=1^NQactive=true^assigned_toISEMPTY Translate Operational servers of any server class sys_class_nameINSTANCEOFcmdb_ci_server^operational_status=1 Translate

Using an encoded query in GlideRecord, list URLs and the REST API

The same string works everywhere. In URLs, encode it first: = becomes %3D, ^ becomes %5E and , becomes %2C.

Server script: GlideRecord.addEncodedQuery()

var gr = new GlideRecord('incident');
gr.addEncodedQuery('active=true^priorityIN1,2^ORDERBYDESCsys_created_on');
gr.query();
while (gr.next()) {
  gs.info(gr.getValue('number') + ' ' + gr.getValue('short_description'));
}

List view URL

https://<instance>.service-now.com/incident_list.do?sysparm_query=active%3Dtrue%5EpriorityIN1%2C2%5EORDERBYDESCsys_created_on

REST Table API (GET)

https://<instance>.service-now.com/api/now/table/incident?sysparm_query=active%3Dtrue%5EpriorityIN1%2C2%5EORDERBYDESCsys_created_on&sysparm_limit=10

Frequently asked questions

What is an encoded query in ServiceNow?

An encoded query is the compact text form of a list filter, such as active=true^priority=1. Each condition is a field, an operator and a value, and conditions are joined with ^ (AND), ^OR and ^NQ. The same string works in list URLs (sysparm_query), in scripts through GlideRecord.addEncodedQuery(), and in the REST Table API.

How do I copy the encoded query from a list?

Filter the list, then right-click the last part of the filter breadcrumb and choose Copy query. You can also take the sysparm_query value from the list URL, or call gr.getEncodedQuery() in a script. Paste any of these into the translator above, including full nav_to.do links.

What is the difference between ^OR and ^NQ?

^OR joins one condition to the condition right before it, as in "priority is 1 or 2". ^NQ starts a completely new query, so the result is every record that matches the first group of conditions or the second group, as in "(active and P1) or (unassigned)".

How do I use an encoded query in a GlideRecord script?

Call gr.addEncodedQuery('active=true^priority=1') before gr.query(). Building the filter in the list view first and copying the query avoids typos in field names and operators. The translator also writes the equivalent addQuery() lines if you prefer them.

Why does my encoded query return every record?

By default ServiceNow ignores conditions on field names it does not recognise, so a typo such as prority=1 quietly matches everything. Check the field names in the translator, or set the system property glide.invalid_query.returns_no_rows to true so that invalid queries return no rows instead.

How do I filter on "Me" or "One of my groups"?

Use dynamic filters: assigned_toDYNAMIC90d1921e5f510100a9ad2572f2b477fe means "assigned to me", and assignment_groupDYNAMICd6435e965f510100a9ad2572f2b47744 means "assignment group is one of my groups". A script value such as assigned_to=javascript:gs.getUserID() also works.

Does this tool connect to my ServiceNow instance?

No. The translator runs entirely in your browser and never asks for instance credentials. Nothing you paste is uploaded, so it is safe to use with queries from tickets, Slack messages or production lists.

ServiceNow Encoded Query Translator

Input

Plain English

Builder

Output

What is an encoded query?

Cheat sheet

How to translate a ServiceNow encoded query

ServiceNow encoded query operators

Joining conditions: ^, ^OR, ^NQ and ORDERBY

Common ServiceNow encoded query examples

Using an encoded query in GlideRecord, list URLs and the REST API

Frequently asked questions

What is an encoded query in ServiceNow?

How do I copy the encoded query from a list?

What is the difference between ^OR and ^NQ?

How do I use an encoded query in a GlideRecord script?

Why does my encoded query return every record?

How do I filter on "Me" or "One of my groups"?

Does this tool connect to my ServiceNow instance?

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