Before Business Rules in ServiceNow

There are four types of Business Rules in ServiceNow

1. Before business rules
2. After business rules
3. Display business rules
4. Async business rules

In ServiceNow, "Before" Business rules are a type of business rule that executes before a record is inserted or updated in the database. These rules allow you to perform actions and validations on the record data before it is saved.

Before business rules are defined with the condition "Before Insert" or "Before Update" and are executed in the order specified by their execution order values. They are typically used to enforce data integrity, perform calculations, set default values, or apply business logic before the record is saved.

Before business rules have the following characteristics:

• Execution Order: Before business rules are executed in the order specified by their numeric values. Lower numeric values are executed first, while higher values are executed later. This order is important when multiple before business rules are defined for the same table and event.
• Condition Evaluation: Before business rules evaluate conditions defined in their scripts to determine whether to execute the associated actions. Conditions typically involve checking field values, record state, or other criteria before proceeding with the desired actions.
• Actions: When the conditions of a before business rule are met, the specified actions are executed. These actions can include modifying field values, performing calculations, displaying messages, or running additional scripts. Before business rules allow you to modify the record data before it is saved to the database.
• Advance: This section allows to add additional execution condition and logic to manipulate and validate data before storing the data into the database.

Here are some key aspects of before business rules in ServiceNow:

• Before Insert: A before business rule with the "Before Insert" condition is executed before a new record is inserted into the database. It allows you to perform actions and validations based on the values being inserted.
• Before Update: A before business rule with the "Before Update" condition is executed before an existing record is updated in the database. It enables you to perform actions and validations based on the updated values.
• Data Manipulation: Before business rules provide the ability to modify or manipulate record data before it is saved. You can set field values, validate data, perform calculations, or apply complex business logic to ensure data consistency and accuracy.
• Field Validations: These rules can enforce data integrity by validating field values. You can check if required fields are populated, verify data formats, or validate against predefined criteria to ensure that only valid data is stored in the database.
• Default Values: Before business rules can set default values for fields if they are not provided by the user. This feature allows you to automate the population of certain fields with predefined values, reducing manual effort and ensuring consistency.
• Execution Order: The order of execution of before business rules is determined by their execution order values. Lower execution order values are executed first, while higher values are executed later. This order is crucial when multiple before business rules are defined for the same event or condition.

Before business rules play a vital role in manipulating and validating data before it is saved in ServiceNow. They allow you to enforce business rules, maintain data integrity, and ensure consistent data quality within the platform.

Before Business Rules provide flexibility and control over the data being saved to the database. They allow you to enforce data integrity, apply custom business rules, and modify data as necessary before it is persisted. By leveraging Before Business Rules effectively, you can ensure that data is accurate, consistent, and meets the desired criteria within your ServiceNow instance.

Example:

If the incident description is empty, the incident should not be submitted and display an information message.

Steps:

• Create a before insert and update business rule on the incident table.
• Add the condition "Description is empty".
• In Action section check box the checkboxes and in the message textbox provide your message text.