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

 Release :

    - xanadu

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Xanadu API Reference

ft:clusterId :

    - crapiref

bundleId :

    - crapiref

workflow :

    - Creator


---

# Glide class overview

# Glide class overview {#ariaid-title1}

* Release version: Xanadu
* 
* Updated August 1, 2024
* 
* ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 1 minute to read

The ServiceNow Glide classes
expose JavaScript APIs that enable you to conveniently work with tables using
scripts.
Using the Glide APIs, you can perform database operations without writing SQL queries,
display UI pages, and define UI actions. The following tables provide brief descriptions of
the Glide classes and links to detailed information.  
{#r_GlideClassOverview__table_bpm_rv3_rq__entry__2}

| Class | Description |
|-|-|
| GlideRecord | Use this class for database operations instead of writing SQL queries. GlideRecord is a special Java class that can be used in JavaScript exactly as if it were a native JavaScript class. A GlideRecord is an object that contains records from a single table. See [GlideRecord](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/Z64TK~kWnpWTEG5bCPvZuQ#c_GlideRecordScopedAPI "The scoped GlideRecord API is used for database operations."). |
| GlideElement | Use this class to operate on the fields of the current GlideRecord. See [GlideElement](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/y~_OwldB4lvmYtOvTK4Ajg#c_GlideElementScopedAPI "The scoped GlideElement API provides a number of convenient script methods for dealing with fields and their values. Scoped GlideElement methods are available for the fields of the current glide record."). |
| GlideSystem | Use this class to get information about the system. See [GlideSystem](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/3Hp1FQjMKidd9ATK9vFJrA#c_GlideSystemScopedAPI "The scoped GlideSystem API provides a number of convenient methods to obtain information about the system, the current logged in user, and other system level information."). |
| GlideAggregate | Use this class to perform database aggregation queries, such COUNT, SUM, MIN, MAX, and AVG, for creating customized reports or calculations in calculated fields. See [GlideAggregate](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/aprIe9Y_8EpH1Pn4YJKJgg#c_GlideAggregateScopedAPI "The GlideAggregate API enables creating database aggregation queries."). |
| GlideDateTime | Use this class to perform date-time operations, such as date-time calculations, formatting a date-time, or converting between date-time formats. See [GlideDateTime](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/xOhnNqU1cKMjoQSfmtxVCw#c_GlideDateTimeScoped "The scoped GlideDateTime class provides methods for performing operations on GlideDateTime objects."). |
[Table 1. Server-side Glide classes]

{#r_GlideClassOverview__table_bpm_rv3_rq}  
{#r_GlideClassOverview__table_xr1_jw3_rq__entry__2}

| Class | Description |
|-|-|
| GlideAjax | Use this class to execute server-side code from the client. See [GlideAjax](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/9y18iKKIcWAq_NDuR_8fzQ#c_GlideAjaxAPI "The GlideAjax class enables a client script to call server-side code in a script include."). |
| GlideDialogWindow | Use this class to display a dialog window. See [GlideDialogWindow](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/23ZYfJU~ei2SOKJ6RF9UEA#c_GlideDialogWindowAPI "The GlideDialogWindow API provides methods for displaying a dialog in the current window and frame."). |
| GlideForm | Use this class to customize forms. See [GlideForm](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/D~Jz7pWgGiVdAfIZ~ZFj8Q#c_GlideFormAPI "The GlideForm API provides methods to customize forms."). |
| GlideList2 | Use this class to customize (v2) lists, including normal lists and related lists. See [GlideList2](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/z9iaUJmaHw4BYGeS8g8Qwg#c_GlideList2API "The GlideList2 API provides methods to customize (v2) lists."). |
| GlideMenu | Use this class to customize UI Context Menu items. See [GlideMenu](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/WgH7hGhxfhQ~BsoI60ayVQ#c_GlideMenuAPI "The GlideMenu API provides methods that can be used in UI context menus and in onShow scripts to customize UI context menu items."). |
| GlideUser | Use this class to get session information about the current user and current user roles. See [GlideUser](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/9J_5TcrSQapaeWEwrxQqaQ#c_GlideUserAPI "The GlideUser API provides methods that access information about the current user and current user roles. Using this API avoids the need to use the slower GlideRecord queries to get user information."). |
[Table 2. Client-side Glide Classes]

{#r_GlideClassOverview__table_xr1_jw3_rq}
* **[Glide stack](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/fdjzqXSwoR7kNHAI7YDguA)**   
  Glide is an extensible Web 2.0 development platform written in Java that facilitates rapid development of forms-based workflow applications (work orders, trouble ticketing, and project management, for example).