What is UI Action in ServiceNow?

In ServiceNow, a UI Action (User Interface Action) is a configurable element that adds buttons, links, or context menu options to forms and lists. UI Actions allow users to perform specific actions or tasks within the ServiceNow platform, enhancing the user experience and providing a more intuitive interface.

Key points about UI Actions in ServiceNow:

1. Types of UI Actions:Form Buttons: These appear on forms and allow users to perform actions related to the record being viewed or edited.List Buttons: These appear on lists and enable users to perform actions on selected records in the list.Context Menu Actions: These add options to the right-click context menu on lists, allowing users to take specific actions on records.
2. Configuration:UI Actions are configured through the ServiceNow platform's interface, allowing administrators and developers to define the behavior, appearance, and conditions under which the action should be displayed.
3. Conditions and Scripting:UI Actions can be conditionally displayed based on certain criteria. This is often achieved through the use of scripting, where conditions are defined using JavaScript.
4. Client and Server Scripts:UI Actions can include both client-side (JavaScript executed in the user's browser) and server-side (JavaScript executed on the server) scripting. This enables a wide range of actions and validations to be performed.
5. Examples:A common use case for a UI Action is to create a "Submit" button on a form, triggering the submission of a record to start a workflow process.Another example is adding a custom action to the right-click context menu in a list to perform a specific task on selected records.
6. Security:Access to UI Actions can be controlled through roles and permissions, ensuring that only users with the appropriate privileges can perform specific actions.

In summary, UI Actions in ServiceNow provide a powerful mechanism to customize and extend the functionality of the platform, allowing organizations to tailor the user interface to meet their specific business processes and requirements.