SNOW-CAD Working with Data Practice Question
A developer writes a business rule that queries the 'incident' table using GlideRecord. The script loops through all incidents and updates a field. After running, the developer notices that only a subset of records were updated. What is the most likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates assume GlideRecord returns all records by default, but ServiceNow's platform applies an implicit active filter, causing partial results unless explicitly overridden.
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
✓
The GlideRecord query did not include a condition, so it used a default filter that limited results
GlideRecord queries in ServiceNow automatically apply a default filter when no explicit condition is set, typically limiting results to records where the `active` field is `true`. This default behavior, known as the 'active filter,' causes the script to only process a subset of incidents (those that are active) rather than all records in the table, explaining why only some were updated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The user running the script lacks write ACL on the table
Why it's wrong here
Lack of ACL would cause an error, not a silent skip.
- ✓
The GlideRecord query did not include a condition, so it used a default filter that limited results
Why this is correct
Without an explicit query, GlideRecord may apply a default filter (e.g., active=true) or system limit.
- ✗
The field name used in the update was misspelled
Why it's wrong here
A typo would cause a script error, not a partial update.
- ✗
The script did not call getRowCount() before the loop
Why it's wrong here
getRowCount() is not required for correct iteration.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This SNOW-CAD practice question is part of Courseiva's free ServiceNow certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SNOW-CAD exam.