---
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


---

# update

# update {#ariaid-title1}

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

Updates an existing record in the targeted table in the URL, identified by the
mandatory sys_id field.

## Input fields

All fields from the targeted table, excluding system fields, which will be used for
updating the existing record. The sys_id field is used to locate the
existing record.

## Output fields

Returns the sys_id of the record that was updated.

## Sample SOAP messages

Sample SOAP request  

    <soapenv:Envelope xmlns:soapenv="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/" xmlns:inc="http://www.service-now.com/incident">
       <soapenv:Header/>
       <soapenv:Body>
          <inc:update>
             <sys_id>46e18c0fa9fe19810066a0083f76bd56</sys_id>
             <short_description>this is updated</short_description>
          </inc:update>
       </soapenv:Body>
    </soapenv:Envelope>

Sample SOAP response  

    <soapenv:Envelope xmlns:inc="http://www.service-now.com/incident" xmlns:soapenv="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/">
       <soapenv:Header/>
       <soapenv:Body>
          <updateResponse>
             <sys_id>46e18c0fa9fe19810066a0083f76bd56</sys_id>
          </updateResponse>
       </soapenv:Body>
    </soapenv:Envelope>

## Language-specific sample messages

For language-specific update samples, refer to the following topics:

[Perl
SOAP::Lite](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/rdDW1aMCNRRHetDvntc5sg#c_PerlWebServicesClientExamples__update)

Java
Apache Axis2

Microsoft
.NET

Python