ServiceNow CAD (Certified Application Developer)
Exam Study Guide
Comprehensive 10-page study guide covering key topics, exam-style practice questions, and a
one-page cheat sheet.
1. Application Development Basics
1 Scoped Applications: Encapsulate data, scripts, and UI elements; reduce risk of collisions; can be
installed/uninstalled independently.
2 Global vs Scoped: Global apps share system-wide resources; Scoped apps are isolated.
3 Guided Application Creator: Provides a step-by-step interface to create the foundation of an app
(tables, roles, navigation).
4 ServiceNow Studio: A web-based IDE for editing application files, adding scripts, UI policies, and
more.
2. Scripting
1 Server-side Scripts: Run on the server (Business Rules, Script Includes, Scheduled Jobs). Manage
database and backend logic.
2 Client-side Scripts: Run in the browser (Client Scripts, UI Policies). Manage form behavior, fields,
and user interaction.
3 Scoped UI Script Libraries: Reusable JavaScript functions stored in scope. Execute only on
demand when called.
4 Glide API: Core API for interacting with ServiceNow data (e.g., GlideRecord, GlideAjax).
3. Flow Designer & IntegrationHub
1 Flow Designer: Automates processes with natural-language logic. Provides a consolidated design
environment.
2 Supported: Run a flow from a Catalog Item, call subflows, add stages for visualization.
3 Not Supported: Domain separation, automated testing functionality, rollback testing.
4 IntegrationHub: Extends Flow Designer to integrate with external systems via Spokes (prebuilt
connectors).
4. Source Control
1 Allows version control and collaboration on applications using Git repositories (e.g., GitHub, GitLab,
Bitbucket).
2 Roles Required: Yokohama release = admin + source_control; Later releases = admin +
source_control_admin.
3 Key Operations: Link to repository, Import changes, Commit changes, Resolve conflicts.
4 Best Practice: Use branches for feature development; regularly sync to avoid conflicts.
5. Security & Delegated Development
1 Access Controls (ACLs): Define who can access tables, fields, and records. Evaluated in order:
table > field > operation.
2 App Scope Security: Prevents other apps from modifying data/scripts unless explicitly allowed via
Application Access settings.
3 Delegated Development: Allows admins to grant specific users permission to develop in a scoped
app without full admin access.
4 Protection Policies: Protect sensitive scripts or tables from being modified or viewed outside the
app.
6. Publishing & Deployment
1 Update Sets: Used for moving customizations across instances. Best for global or legacy changes.
2 Application Repository: Preferred for scoped apps. Allows controlled app distribution
(install/uninstall apps).
3 Best Practice: Use App Repository for scoped apps, Update Sets for legacy/global changes.
7. Practice Questions
Q1: What intuitive development interface guides users through initial application creation?
A: Guided Application Creator
Q2: Server-side scripts manage what?
A: Database and backend logic
Q3: Which of the following is NOT a Flow Designer feature? (Domain separation, Automated testing,
Consolidated design environment, Rollback testing)
A: Domain separation, Automated testing, Rollback testing
Q4: Importing applications from source control requires what roles in Yokohama release?
A: admin, source_control
Q5: A scoped UI Script library runs how?
A: On demand
Q6: What are two benefits of scoped applications? (Choose two)
A: Reduce risk of code collisions, Enable installation/uninstallation of apps
Q7: Which tool provides a consolidated design environment for building process automation?
A: Flow Designer
Q8: Which mechanism is recommended for deploying scoped apps across instances?
A: Application Repository
Q9: Delegated Development allows what?
A: Specific users to develop in an application scope without full admin rights
Q10: Which scripting API is used to query records in server-side scripts?
A: GlideRecord
8. CAD Exam Cheat Sheet
1 Scoped Apps: Isolated, portable, safer than global.
2 Guided App Creator: Step-by-step app creation.
3 Studio: Full app IDE.
4 Flow Designer: Automation + subflows (no rollback).
5 IntegrationHub: External system integrations via Spokes.
6 Source Control Roles: Yokohama=admin+source_control; Later=admin+source_control_admin.
7 Server-side Scripts: Business Rules, Script Includes, manage backend.
8 Client-side Scripts: Client Scripts, UI Policies, manage forms.
9 UI Script Libraries: Run on demand.
10 ACLs: Control access (table > field > operation).
11 Delegated Development: Scoped development permissions.
12 Publishing: App Repository > Update Sets for scoped apps.
