In ServiceNow,UI PoliciesandData Policiesserve different but complementary purposes in controlling data behavior and enforcing business rules.
UI Policies are client-side rules that dynamically change form behavior based on user interactions.
They enable administrators to show/hide fields, make fields read-only, or set fields as mandatory dynamically.
UI Policies only apply when a user is interacting with a form through the ServiceNow UI (Client-side execution).
These policies do not enforce rules if data is added via an Import Set, API, or background script.
Data Policies enforce rulesserver-side, meaning they applyregardless of how data is entered(e.g., form submission, Import Sets, SOAP/REST API calls, or Business Rules).
They ensure data integrity by making fields mandatory, setting read-only properties, or applying other restrictions.
Data Policies can apply conditions globally, unlike UI Policies, which work only in the UI context.
UI Policies:Data Policies:Key Differences:Feature
UI Policy
Data Policy
Scope
Affects only forms (Client-side)
Affects all data entry points (Server-side)
Execution Location
Runs in the browser
Runs on the server
Triggers
User interaction on the form
Any data entry method (Forms, Import Sets, API, etc.)
Enforcement
Works only when using the UI
Applies even when data is added outside the UI
"Data Policies run regardless of how data is entered into ServiceNow"→Correct, because Data Policies enforce rules whether the data is entered via UI, API, Import Sets, or other means.
"UI Policies are used for form interactions"→Correct, because UI Policies apply only to client-side form behavior.
Option A: Incorrect. UI Policies are not set by web services; they are applied when interacting with forms.
Option B: Incorrect. While some Data Policies can be converted into UI Policies, the reverse is not true in all cases.
Option D: Incorrect. UI Policies and Data Policies operate independently, and Data Policies do not depend on UI Policies running first.
Why Option C is Correct:Why Other Options are Incorrect:
[References:For official documentation, refer to:, ServiceNow Docs - UI Policies, ServiceNow Docs - Data Policies, ServiceNow Community - UI Policy vs Data Policy, , , ]
