--- sourceDocument: Australia Platform security sourceDocumentLink: https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/r/de-DE/platform-security Release : - australia ft:locale : - de-DE ft:publication_title : - Australia Platform security ft:clusterId : - psec bundleId : - psec workflow : - Platform --- # Context and domain separation # Context and domain separation {#ariaid-title1} * Freigeben Version: Australia * * Aktualisiert 12. März 2026 * * ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 2 Minuten Lesedauer The context of a user's session determines the processes, data, and user interface (UI) as the user browses through list views, home pages, reports, and knowledge articles. The context is determined by the processes that you create, the business rules that you set, your workflows, and other factors. ## User session context {#bp-domain-sep-context__section_hz3_zvx_qhb} Many factors determine the context of a user session, such as user profiles, groups, company criteria, and so on. In the following diagram, you see that the incidents that a company has created are part of the context. The user in this example has a home domain of Cloud Dimensions. 1. The branding reflects the settings in the Cloud Dimensions domain and company record. 2. The application navigator shows the items that are inherited from higher-level domains as well as the modules that are defined in the Cloud Dimensions domain. 3. The home pages and list data reflect the data that is visible to the user. This data is based on the user's session context. In this case, the user in the Cloud Dimensions domain can see the data in Cloud Dimensions, child domains, and the global domain. {#bp-domain-sep-context__ol_bw2_gwx_qhb} ## User session context starts in the home domain {#bp-domain-sep-context__section_mzy_nwx_qhb} In the following diagram, you can see the elements of the context. The system administrator sets users' home domains on their user records. Typically, a user's home domain is set to the same domain as their company's domain. When the user logs in, the domain picker sets automatically to the user's home domain. Users can return to their home domain at any time by clicking the arrow icon on the domain picker. The domain picker's list includes domains within the user's session context. Users may further limit their session context by selecting child domains with the picker. The context of the user session includes the user's home domain and any child domains. This set of domains in the user's session context is appended automatically to every query that is sent to the database. That way, the results are limited to just the data in these domains and global data. This process is embedded in the compiled code that is not accessible. Service accounts that are used for integrations also have user session context. There is user context and records context, each with its own data in its own domain. These contexts affect the integrations. Database queries (records) are limited in the same way as interactive users (users), meaning that they work as normal but are limited by whatever constraints the developer has configured. You can learn about additional ways to add domains to a user's session context in [Service provider reference architecture](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/I7hvZlnhK2CMWNxs17Ur2w "Your customers can access service provider (SP) services by using a portal that is designed for them to reach their domain-separated instance."). ## Record context {#bp-domain-sep-context__section_v4f_ydy_qhb} As a user drills into individual records, record context is activated. The record context determines the UI elements and processes to apply to the record. A record's domain dictates the process, data, and the availability of UI elements within the record. Hinweis: * Record context persists even if the user's domain changes. * Users can view records concurrently in multiple browser tabs, while maintaining their own record context. {#bp-domain-sep-context__ul_d3q_f2y_qhb} **Zugehörige Konzepte** * [Domain separation explained](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/x9xyVWl9u0yhkSMd6PgbBw "With domain separation, you can segregate application data, UI, and business logic, such as rules or workflows, in a single customer instance. Separating these elements into logically defined domains supports specific hierarchies for all customers using your applications.") * [How a database query works with domain separation](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/yQ9RQVyEkZdMQEmVYhCGCw "Using database queries with domain separation in your customers' applications help them protect their data. These queries then speed up the configuration and build processes.") * [Domain-separate a custom table](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/Lv2WmMnM3OxtInjuL8rlYw "You may need to create custom tables in separate domains. This topic covers both the procedure and the concept behind domain-separating a custom table.") * [Customizing domain properties and themes](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/o~73HsH~C~Y8lCJBbqNjKA "You can customize your customers' company properties and themes within the domains that you have configured. Customization makes their instances fit in with their companies' overall look and feel.") * [Managing domain separation for specific uses](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/~rh2XIdcd8JY~l2bgFgr~Q "You can set up separate domains for email notifications and customize the properties of catalog, tables, users, groups, and views. This enables you to provide more specific behavior in each domain, giving your customers more flexibility.") * [Configuring domain separation with the domain picker](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/dB~D65eJSYPmKEJYOgd2RQ "Use the domain picker wisely, and remember the 80/15/5 approach so that you do not customize too much and impact the performance of your instance.") * [Domain separation performance considerations](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/P8ZuAavQomgk_~ZYZYkfyw "As you configure domain separation in your application and services, make sure that you consider the number and properties of domains you create. Too many property-heavy domains can impact the performance of your instance.") * [Setting up domain hierarchies](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/~BeGlrS5mkBAZC8MgNeHNw "You can avoid slowdowns and performance impacts in your instance by knowing how domain hierarchies work and by setting them up properly.") * [Checking domain logs for errors and warnings](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/hTDpifH47t2Gr1s9ep3duA "Check the domain logs to find errors or warnings in your domain path processes and hierarchy configurations.") * [Importance of the Default domain](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/s60j9ApH7YvVauD3Os2I4w "Organizing your domains is a crucial part of the domain separation process. If you don't set a default domain, new tasks and user records go to the global domain. Anyone can see the records in the global domain, which means that data can be seen when it is not supposed to.") * [Contains queries and domain access](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/z9rKyulEpro~zy87l2cNMg "Use a \"contains\" query only in special cases, such as when users or groups need to see data from a domain that they don't have access to, but you don't want to move those users to a domain. Creating domain \"contains\" and user or group access for a domain should be an exception, only when absolutely needed.") * [Domain paths query method](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/yWArrf6dWdJiSqzk7MV0rg "You can create effective queries with domain paths.") * [Slow queries and SQL debugging](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/MDCvsO1Iv3cuVtEHAH_bfg "Debugging SQL and slow queries can help you resolve slowness issues in an instance.") * [Before Query business rules](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/dYg_2l53Fdrn0m68dyF7wQ "You can use a Before Query business rule to help support data segregation on an instance. ServiceNow applications that support domain separation may support the separation of data and data routing only, have advanced business logic separation, or support tenant (customer) level administration of the application.") * [Avoiding domain path in scripts](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/bv~55hFZ7r56GVb0sh0iDg "Domain paths can cause the values of your script to change or even break, so don't use them in scripts.") * [Domain separation and the Customer Service Management (CSM) plugin](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/Vo~HSBl~YXh~9ao1ckJZHw "For the best outcome, be aware of how the properties in the CSM plugin work. When the plugin is enabled, you can see the status of your records in your domains.") **Zugehörige Verweise** * [Domain separation hierarchies](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/SCHXcKE3qVwuIT~t3G1Hsg "Create a hierarchy when defining a domain architecture to track your processes and workflows.") * [Segregating and securing data with domain separation](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/XOxpsOY5MXa0uH9QRefifQ "You can segregate and secure data on the ServiceNow platform in multiple ways, depending on your customer's needs. ") * [Alternatives to domain separation](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/p_6ioFlafs3xFn~zvUKCyg "You can use a separate instance as an alternative to domain separation for your customers. A separate instance allows you the flexibility to meet the requirements for data separation within the groups and departments in an organization with little to no impact on others.") * [Evaluating the need for domain separation](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/4r7B5rm_p0mj2kqvK6uXug "You may find that domain separation doesn't always work for your customers' organizations. It's best that you base your decision to go with domain separation by looking at your customers' needs.") * [Benefits of domain separation](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/ILX1hP1qttb97unHeBSDJA "Domain separation may work better for your customers' organizations than any other method for separating the data between groups and departments.") * [Domain separation levels of support](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/UGOnrC3b1gBgenLDX_TxRQ "Choose from three categories for domain separation of an application for your customers' organizations.") * [Service provider reference architecture](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/I7hvZlnhK2CMWNxs17Ur2w "Your customers can access service provider (SP) services by using a portal that is designed for them to reach their domain-separated instance.") * [Domain separation terms](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/H1gx~UAruHKGV3488YLtEg "With a ServiceNow instance, you can improve efficiency, add greater security, and increase performance for your customer organizations. It's helpful to understand some of the most common terms as you create your configurations.") * [Domain assignments](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/mcw9B6D7asbF5cb6Qw3jhg "How you assign a domain impacts the value of the sys_domain field. The assignments contain designs and business properties that affect how the application functions in each domain.")