Application Navigator, Modules & UI Features

You are just getting started with ServiceNow administration, and hence, the first thing that you will interact with regularly is the Application Navigator. It is similar to your computer’s control panel, where you can find all the applications, modules, incident records, reports, and admin settings. 

In this chapter, we’ll walk you through the Application Navigator, modules, and key UI features to help you confidently navigate and operate within the ServiceNow application.

What is the Application Navigator in ServiceNow?

The Application Navigator in ServiceNow is a menu panel located on the left side of the platform interface. It provides quick access to all the available applications and modules that come in ServiceNow. Here are some key functions of the Application Navigator:

• Search Box: It helps to quickly locate modules or applications by typing keywords.
• Applications: These are basically ServiceNow products or groupings of related modules such as Incident, Problem, Service Catalog, etc.
• Modules: These are specific functionalities within each application that can be found in the application navigator as well.

By default, the Application Navigator shows applications in alphabetical order and modules under the respective application.

Understanding Applications vs Modules

A common point of confusion for beginners is the difference between applications and modules in ServiceNow.

So when you open the Incident application, you’ll find modules like:

• Create New
• Open
• Assigned to me
• All Incidents

Each module serves a focused purpose and helps users interact with specific records or data.

Tips to Navigate Like a Pro

Here are a few quick tips to speed up your ServiceNow navigation:

• Use keyboard shortcuts like Ctrl + Alt + Shift + F for global search.
• Collapse the Application Navigator using the menu icon for more screen space.
• Customize your favorites for faster access to frequently used modules.
• Use filters within lists to narrow down record views effectively.

What’s Next?

You have completed the ServiceNow Overview Module and are ready to move on to the admin duties that you will learn in the next module. Up next is a detailed tutorial on Users, Groups & Management roles in ServiceNow Administration.