Facet form

  • Release version: Washingtondc
  • Updated July 1, 2025
  • 5 minutes to read
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    Summary of Facet form

    The Facet form in ServiceNow AI Search is used to create or modify facets for search application configurations. Facets help refine search results by allowing users to filter based on specific criteria defined in the facet settings.

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    Key Features

    • Name: A unique identifier for the facet.
    • Label: The display name for the facet in the search interface.
    • Facet Field: A list of field names from indexed source tables that will be used as filters for search results. The facet should contain fields that exist in the indexed sources.
    • Type: Determines the selection logic for the facet, with options for Single Select, Multi Select And, and Multi Select Or.
    • Facet Value Limit: Sets the maximum number of distinct values displayed for the facet.
    • Order: Defines the sequence in which the facet appears in the search application.
    • Active: Option to enable or disable the facet for use in the application.

    Key Outcomes

    By configuring facets effectively, ServiceNow customers can enhance the search experience, allowing users to filter results based on relevant criteria. This streamlines the process of finding specific information and improves overall search efficiency. Proper facet configuration ensures that search results are more relevant and user-friendly, ultimately leading to better user satisfaction and engagement with the system.

    The Facet form contains information about facets defined for search application configurations in AI Search. Use this form when creating or modifying a facet.

    For details on creating or modifying a facet, see Create a facet in an AI Search application configuration.

    Table 1. Facet form
    Field Description
    Name Unique name for the facet.
    Label Label to display for the facet in the search application.
    Facet Field
    Comma-separated list of field names from AI Search indexed source tables. The facet displays search result refinement filters for values from one or more specified fields that are present in the current search result set. When you select a refinement filter after searching, AI Search restricts the search result set to show only results that contain the specified field value.
    Note:
    When you save or update a facet, AI Search verifies each facet field. To pass verification, the field must exist on at least one record that exists in a search source used by the search application. If a field doesn't satisfy this condition, the system displays an error message.

    Supports the following formats:

    Table-specific field list

    Enter a comma-separated list of qualified [indexed_source_table_name].[field_name] entries. AI Search displays search result refinement filters for values from the superset of the specified indexed source table fields.

    For example, enter kb_knowledge.author to display search result refinement filters for Author field values from the Knowledge [kb_knowledge] indexed source table. Or enter kb_knowledge.author, sc_cat_item.owner, custom_table.author_field to display search result refinement filters for values from all of the three specified indexed source table fields.
    Note:
    All fields specified in a facet field list must be of the same type.

    The [indexed_source_table_name] qualifier must be the name of a table specified in an indexed source. Don't specify indexed source child table names for this qualifier.

    Cross-table field

    Enter an unqualified [field_name] entry. AI Search displays search result refinement filters for values from the specified cross-table field.

    For example, enter language to display search result refinement filters for Language field values from any indexed source table.
    Note:
    This format only supports the language and tags cross-table fields.
    Special cases include:
    Faceting on parent table fields

    If you specify an indexed source parent table field as a facet field, AI Search includes values from the same field on child tables from the indexed source.

    As an example, suppose you create an indexed source for a custom Parent [u_parent] table, which is extended by a custom Child [u_child] table. If you specify u_parent.author as a facet field, AI Search displays search result refinement filters for both u_parent.author and u_child.author field values.

    Faceting on child table fields

    You can specify a field that's unique to an indexed source child table as a facet.

    Continuing the previous example, if your Child [u_child] table includes an Editor field that's not present on the Parent [u_parent] table, you can specify u_parent.editor as a facet to display search result refinement filters for Editor field values.
    Note:
    Be sure to specify the parent table name as the qualifier, not the child table name.
    Faceting on dot-walk fields from referenced tables

    If your indexed source includes a dot_walk_fields field setting for a dot-walk referenced table field, you can specify that field in a facet field entry using dot-separated reference field qualifiers. Add these qualifiers between the indexed source table name and the referenced table field name.

    For example, to facet Knowledge article search results based on the Department field values for their authors, you can define author.department as a dot_walk_fields field setting for the indexed source for the Knowledge [kb_knowledge] table and then specify kb_knowledge.author.department in your facet field entry. If you define company.contact.department as a dot_walk_fields field setting for the indexed source for the User [sys_user] table, you can specify sys_user.company.contact.department in your facet field entry.
    Note:
    Each dot-walk reference level imposes a performance impact on indexing. Avoid using multi-level references unless necessary.

    To learn about dot_walk_fields field settings, see Enable indexing of referenced table fields for an AI Search indexed source.

    Facets work best when created from fields of the following types with relatively few unique values:
    • Choice
    • Reference
    • String
    • String (Full UTF-8)
    • True/False
    Type

    Type of the facet. The facet type determines how many field values you can select as facet refinement filters and the filter logic used by the facet.

    Supports the following values:
    Single Select

    In a Single Select facet, you can only select a single field value as a facet refinement filter.

    When you select a field value from a Single Select, AI Search filters the search results list, displaying only results that contain your chosen field value.

    A Single Select facet only allows you to select field values that are found in the current result set.

    Multi Select And

    In a Multi Select And facet, you can select multiple field values as facet refinement filters.

    When you select a field value from a Multi Select And facet, AI Search filters the search results list, displaying only results that contain all of the field values you've selected from the facet.

    A Multi Select And facet only allows you to select field values that are found in the current result set.

    Multi Select Or

    In a Multi Select Or facet, you can select multiple field values as facet refinement filters.

    When you select a field value from a Multi Select Or facet, AI Search filters the search results list, displaying only results that contain any of the field values you've selected from the facet.

    A Multi Select Or facet initially only allows you to select field values that are found in the current result set. All field values that are available when you make your first selection remain available for selection.

    As an example, suppose you have a Multi Select Or facet for a custom Color field with blue, green, and red field values. If your search returns only green and red results, the Color facet only displays green and red field values. When you select the red field value, AI Search keeps the green field value available for selection because it was available before you made any Color selection.

    Warning:
    Applying multiple filters from a Multi Select And or Multi Select Or facet makes your search query URL longer. Test your multi-select facet configurations to ensure that search query URLs with facet filters don't exceed the maximum URL length limit for your web browser. (Different web browsers have different URL length limits.)
    Facet Value Limit Maximum number of distinct field values to display for the facet.
    Order Order of appearance for the facet in the context of the search application configuration.
    Active Option to activate the facet for the application.