---
sourceDocument: Xanadu ServiceNow AI Platform Administration
sourceDocumentLink: https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/r/xanadu/platform-administration

 Release :

    - xanadu

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Xanadu ServiceNow AI Platform Administration

ft:clusterId :

    - platadm

bundleId :

    - platadm

workflow :

    - Platform


---

# The INSTANCEOF operator in reference qualifiers

# The INSTANCEOF operator in reference qualifiers {#ariaid-title1}

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

You can use the INSTANCEOF operator in a reference qualifier to shorten or simplify a
complex class qualifier.

For example, use the INSTANCEOF operator for a reference field to the cmdb_ci table to specify
that all subclasses of a class are included in the results. The following reference qualifier
returns all servers, including Linux, UNIX, Windows, and so on, because each of those
subclasses extend the cmdb_ci_server class.  

    sys_class_nameINSTANCEOFcmdb_ci_server

In another example, you can simplify the following reference qualifier in a similar way.  

     u_active=true^sys_class_name=cmdb_ci_acc
    ^ORsys_class_name=cmdb_ci_computer
    ^ORsys_class_name=cmdb_ci_server
    ^ORsys_class_name=cmdb_ci_win_server
    ^ORsys_class_name=cmdb_ci_unix_server
    ^ORsys_class_name=cmdb_ci_linux_server
    ^ORsys_class_name=cmdb_ci_appl
    ^ORsys_class_name=cmdb_ci_netgear

Using the INSTANCEOF operator, the reference qualifier is rewritten as follows because the
server subclasses extend the cmdb_ci_computer class.  

     u_active=true^sys_class_name=cmdb_ci_acc
    ^ORsys_class_nameINSTANCEOFcmdb_ci_computer
    ^ORsys_class_name=cmdb_ci_appl
    ^ORsys_class_name=cmdb_ci_netgear