SNOW-CSA Database Administration and CMDB Practice Question
An administrator notices that a CMDB CI class is not visible in the class hierarchy. The class exists in the database but cannot be selected when creating a new CI. What is the likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse 'abstract' with 'retired' or assume a missing parent causes visibility issues, but ServiceNow specifically uses the abstract flag to hide classes from selection while keeping them in the database for inheritance purposes.
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 class is marked as 'abstract'.
In ServiceNow, a CI class marked as 'abstract' exists in the database but is not intended for direct instantiation. Abstract classes serve as templates for inheritance and are hidden from the 'New CI' selection list, which is why the administrator cannot select it when creating a new CI.
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 class is retired.
Why it's wrong here
Retired classes are typically removed from the hierarchy.
- ✓
The class is marked as 'abstract'.
Why this is correct
Abstract classes cannot be instantiated, so they are not available for creating new CIs.
- ✗
The class has no parent.
Why it's wrong here
A class without a parent would cause configuration issues, not hide it.
- ✗
The class has a missing table extension.
Why it's wrong here
A missing table extension would cause errors, not hide the class.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This SNOW-CSA 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-CSA exam.