SNOW-CAD Core Application Development Practice Question
A developer is optimizing a Business Rule that runs on every update to the 'incident' table. The rule uses GlideAggregate to count related records. The developer notices performance degradation. Which change will most improve performance while maintaining functionality?
⚠ Common exam trap
ServiceNow often tests the misconception that adding an index (Option B) is the universal performance fix, but the trap here is that reducing unnecessary execution (Option C) is a more impactful optimization than improving query speed for a query that runs too often.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Add a condition to the Business Rule such as 'current.changesField('state')' to only run the aggregate when relevant.
It prevents the GlideAggregate from executing on every update, instead running only when the 'state' field changes. This reduces unnecessary database operations, directly addressing the performance degradation while preserving the rule's functionality when needed.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Replace GlideAggregate with GlideRecord and count results manually.
Why it's wrong here
GlideRecord would be slower than GlideAggregate for counting.
- ✗
Add a database index on the foreign key field used in the aggregate.
Why it's wrong here
Indexing helps but is not a script change; the question asks for a change to the script.
- ✓
Add a condition to the Business Rule such as 'current.changesField('state')' to only run the aggregate when relevant.
Why this is correct
Limiting execution to only when the 'state' field changes reduces unnecessary processing.
- ✗
Use the gs.addInfoMessage() to log the count and disable the script in production.
Why it's wrong here
Logging does not reduce processing; disabling would break functionality.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
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