Widget library

  • Release version: Australia
  • Updated March 12, 2026
  • 4 minutes to read
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    Summary of Widget library

    The Widget library in Service Portal provides a collection of base system widgets that you can use directly or clone to customize according to your business needs. Base widgets are read-only to ensure you benefit from future updates, while cloned widgets are customizable but do not receive updates. Widgets enable you to build and enhance your Service Portal with various functional and interactive components.

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    Key Widget Categories

    • Example widgets: Demonstrate common portal features such as viewing announcements, approvals, and service information. They include tools like calculators, data tables, and carousels to show dynamic information presentation on portal pages.
    • Service Catalog widgets: Allow browsing, searching, ordering, and tracking of catalog items and services within the portal, providing a streamlined catalog experience from a central location.
    • Knowledge Management widgets: Facilitate searching, browsing, and reading knowledge articles. They include features to view popular or top-rated articles and interact through ratings or comments where available.
    • Service Portal service status widgets: Display current health, outages, planned maintenance, and historical service status of business services, helping users stay informed and plan accordingly.
    • Service Portal configuration page widgets: Used internally within the Service Portal Configuration workspace to manage portals, pages, themes, and widgets. They support configuration tasks through tools like the Portal Map and Widget Editor.
    • Search widgets: Provide robust search capabilities across the portal, including predictive search, filtering, and context-aware suggestions to help users quickly find knowledge articles, catalog items, records, and other content.

    Practical Benefits for ServiceNow Customers

    • Use base widgets as-is for quick deployment or clone them to tailor functionality without losing the ability to receive updates on base widgets.
    • Enhance end-user experience by integrating ready-to-use widgets for common tasks such as service requests, knowledge searches, and service status monitoring.
    • Leverage configuration widgets to efficiently administer and customize your Service Portal layout and appearance from within the configuration workspace.
    • Implement powerful search functionality to help users find relevant information and services faster, improving portal usability and satisfaction.

    You can use base system widgets as-is in your Service Portal or duplicate them to suit your own business needs.

    Note:
    Base system widgets are read-only so you can benefit from future updates. To make changes, you can clone base system widgets. However, cloned widgets are considered custom and don't benefit from future updates to the widgets they were cloned from. To learn more about cloning or creating widgets, see Developing custom widgets.

    To view and configure the instance options for a widget, see Configure widget instances.

    Example widgets

    Example widgets help show what you can do in the Service Portal. They demonstrate how common portal features work and what information you can access directly from a portal page.

    Use example widgets to do the following:
    • View announcements, approvals, and service information.
    • Navigate the portal more easily.
    • Interact with common tools such as calculators, data tables, and carousels.
    • See how information can display dynamically on a page.

    These widgets appear as ready‑to‑use components in the Service Portal. Some focus on everyday tasks, such as approving requests or viewing announcements, while others show interactive or informational elements you might see on a portal page. For more information, see Example widgets.

    Service Catalog widgets

    Service Catalog widgets let you browse, request, and track services directly from the Service Portal. They provide the building blocks for a complete Service Catalog experience, allowing you to find what you need and submit requests in one central place.

    Use Service Catalog widgets to do the following:
    • Browse available services and catalog items.
    • Search the catalog from the portal homepage.
    • View services by category.
    • Order catalog items and submit requests.
    • Track your requests and approvals.

    These widgets display service information in a clear, task‑focused way. For example, some widgets help you search or browse the catalog, while others let you view request details or check the status of items you have already ordered. For more information, see Service Catalog widgets.

    Knowledge Management widgets

    Knowledge Management widgets let you search, browse, and read knowledge articles directly in the Service Portal. They provide the core components for building a knowledge experience that helps you find answers quickly and consistently.

    Use Knowledge Management widgets to do the following:
    • Search the knowledge base for information and solutions.
    • Browse knowledge bases and categories.
    • View knowledge articles and related content.
    • See popular, featured, or top‑rated articles.
    • Interact with articles by rating or commenting, when available.

    These widgets organize knowledge content in a clear and easy‑to‑navigate way. Some widgets help you discover articles through search and filters, while others display article details and related information on the article page. For more information, see Knowledge Management widgets.

    Service Portal service status widgets

    Service status widgets show the current health of business services in the Service Portal. You use these widgets to see whether services are available, experiencing issues, or undergoing planned maintenance.

    Use the service status widgets help you do the following:
    • View current service availability and outages.
    • Understand the impact of service issues.
    • See planned maintenance schedules.
    • Review recent service status history.
    • Subscribe to updates for specific services.

    These widgets present service health information in a clear, visual format. Some widgets show current issues, while others display planned maintenance or historical service status trends. This lets you quickly understand what is happening and plan your work accordingly. For more information, see Service Portal service status widgets.

    Service Portal configuration page widgets

    Service Portal configuration page widgets help you set up and manage your Service Portal experience. Use these widgets when you configure portals, pages, themes, and widgets in the Service Portal Configuration workspace, rather than for end‑user interaction.

    These widgets support portal configuration tasks such as:
    • Navigating Service Portal configuration pages.
    • Viewing portals and pages in a structured, tree‑based layout.
    • Editing portal themes and previewing design changes.
    • Configuring pages and widgets using visual editors.

    Service Portal configuration page widgets run behind the scenes and are internal to the configuration experience. For example, they power tools like the Portal Map, Page Map, Branding Editor, and Widget Editor, helping you understand and manage how your portal is structured and displayed. For more information, see Service Portal configuration page widgets.

    Search widgets

    Service Portal search widgets let you find information quickly across the Service Portal. Use these widgets to search for knowledge articles, catalog items, records, and other content without navigating through multiple pages.

    Search widgets help you to do the following:
    • Search for answers, services, and records from a single search bar.
    • See relevant results as you type with predictive search.
    • Filter and refine search results to find what you need faster.
    • Get suggested or context‑aware results while submitting requests.

    Service Portal search widgets work in different locations, such as the portal homepage, search results page, or within record producers. Some widgets display a simple search bar, while others show detailed results with filters and facets for easier discovery. For more information, see Search widgets.