---
sourceDocument: Australia API Reference
sourceDocumentLink: https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/r/api-reference

 Release :

    - australia

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Australia API Reference

ft:clusterId :

    - crapiref

bundleId :

    - crapiref

workflow :

    - Creator


---

# Returning reference variable display values

# Return the display value for reference variables {#ariaid-title1}

Release version: Australia  
Updated March 12, 2026  
![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 1 minute to read  
When you query a record using a get or
getRecords function, the instance returns all fields associated with that
record. The fields are often reference fields that contain a sys_id for a record on another
table.  
Use one of these options if you want the display value for the field to be returned instead of the sys_id:

1. Add the glide.soap.return_displayValue property to your system properties, and every SOAP request will return a display value for a reference field.
2. Add the displayvalue=true parameter to your SOAP request URL, and SOAP requests with that parameter will return a display value for a reference field as a string, instead of the sys_id. The SOAP URL would look as follows: https://\<instance name\>.service-now.com/incident.do?displayvalue=true\&SOAP.
3. Add the displayvalue=all parameter to your SOAP request URL, and SOAP requests with that parameter will return a display value for a reference field, in addition to the sys_id. The response element name for the display value field will be prefixed with dv, such as dv_caller_id.
{#return-display-reference-variables__ol_fdm_tmv_bdb}
**Related concepts**   

* [Use forms to limit or extend the query response](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/ii_m6Bzgwg0ZW2dpIz24aw "On occasion, there is a need to limit the number of field values that a SOAP query returns.")
* [Clear values from a target instance](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/xPNv4OYcpXLIXfQl5INsIw "You can pass an empty value through a SOAP parameter to clear the respective value in the target instance.")
* [Retrieve journal entries using direct web services](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/jeMNuJinxqD5_BnlSOucdQ "To get the contents of a journal field, make a second soap request against the sys_journal_field table to pull the appropriate journal records back for the record in question.")
* [Retrieve choice fields using direct web services](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/UifnhqOESSERMgoadayL0Q "To retrieve or set choice fields, use the choice Value, not the Label.")
* [Persist an HTTP session across all SOAP calls](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/kpFpElBcNaeeqZXIlOoKPA "In circumstances when a SOAP client makes many calls in a short amount of time, you may want to re-use a single HTTP session for all SOAP calls.")  
**Related reference**   

* [SOAP direct web service API functions](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/gJf5KkZWYK~yTJTjXATl_A "The standard SOAP API is a set of small, globally defined functions that can be performed on a targeted resource.")