Validating Email Addresses in ServiceNow: Best Practices and Implementation
- kelly.ryu
- Mar 21
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 26
Ensuring the accuracy of email addresses is crucial for maintaining effective communication and preventing errors in ServiceNow workflows. Users often seek a reliable method to validate email formats before form submission to enhance data integrity and user experience. This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to validate email addresses within ServiceNow using client scripts, UI policies, and background scripts.
Understanding Email Validation in ServiceNow
In ServiceNow, email validation can be implemented using various approaches depending on the use case. Whether it is preventing invalid submissions or ensuring accurate user input, applying the right validation method can streamline processes and reduce manual corrections.
Common Methods for Email Validation
1. Using the Email Field Type
ServiceNow provides an out-of-the-box (OOB) email field type, which automatically validates email format. However, in some instances, users have reported that it does not prevent form submission with incorrect formats. To enforce stricter validation, additional scripting methods can be used.
2. Client Script for OnSubmit Validation
A client script can be created to prevent form submission if an invalid email address is entered. The following script, adapted from ServiceNow’s HR Service Management module, checks for valid email formatting and displays an error message if the input is incorrect.
This script hides previous error messages and validates the email field when the form is submitted. If the email format is incorrect, an error box appears, preventing submission.
3. OnChange Client Script for Immediate Feedback
To provide users with real-time feedback when entering an email, an onChange client script can be used.
This script ensures that as soon as the user enters an invalid email, an error message is displayed before they submit the form.
4. Server-Side Background Script for Validation
For scenarios where validation needs to be done at the backend, such as in automated workflows, a background script can be used.
This script checks if an email is correctly formatted before proceeding with further actions.
5. Validating Email via UI Policies
UI policies offer a no-code approach to email validation. By creating a UI policy with conditions that check for a valid email pattern and using the Execute if False script, users can ensure proper formatting.
Implementing email validation in ServiceNow is essential for ensuring data accuracy and improving user experience. By leveraging client scripts, UI policies, and server-side validation, administrators can enforce strict email formatting rules. These methods provide immediate feedback to users and prevent erroneous data from entering the system, ultimately improving overall workflow efficiency in ServiceNow.
By choosing the right validation approach based on your needs, you can enhance your ServiceNow instance’s reliability and usability. If you are unsure about the best approach for your use case, testing different methods in a sandbox environment is recommended before deploying them to production.
