Setting a GlideRecord variable to 'NULL'

reference australia Updated Sep 10, 2026 1 min read r_SettingAGlideRecordVariableToNull.md

GlideRecord variables (including current) are initially null in the database. Setting these back to an empty string, a space, or the JavaScript null value will not result in a return to this initial state.

To set it back to the initial state, simply set the value to 'NULL'. Note that the update() function does not run on the current object but rather on the record. The object displays the initial value until it is called again from the record.

Note: Functionality described here requires the Admin role.

Example 1

JavaScript

var grIncident = new GlideRecord('incident');grIncident.addNotNullQuery("assigned_to");grIncident.query();if (grIncident.next()) {  gs.log(“The incident record that is going to be updated is “ + grIncident.number);  gs.log("Previous Value of 'Assigned To' field: " + grIncident.assigned_to);  grIncident.assigned_to = "NULL";  grIncident.update();  gs.log("Current Value of 'Assigned To' field: " + grIncident.assigned_to);}

Example 2 (Business Rule)

JavaScript

current.u_affected_value = 'NULL';current.update();

Parent Topic:Writing server-side scripts

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---
title: Setting a GlideRecord variable to 'NULL'
description: GlideRecord variables \(including current\) are initially null in the database. Setting these back to an empty string, a space, or the JavaScript null value will not result in a return to this initial state.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/api-reference/scripts/r\_SettingAGlideRecordVariableToNull.html
release: australia
product: Scripts
classification: scripts
topic_type: reference
last_updated: "2026-09-10"
reading_time_minutes: 1
breadcrumb: [Write server-side scripts, Scripting, API implementation, API implementation and reference]
---

# Setting a GlideRecord variable to 'NULL'

GlideRecord variables \(including current\) are initially null in the database. Setting these back to an empty string, a space, or the JavaScript null value will not result in a return to this initial state.

To set it back to the initial state, simply set the value to 'NULL'. Note that the update\(\) function does not run on the current object but rather on the record. The object displays the initial value until it is called again from the record.

**Note:** Functionality described here requires the **Admin** role.

## Example 1

```javascript
var grIncident = new GlideRecord('incident');
grIncident.addNotNullQuery("assigned_to");
grIncident.query();
if (grIncident.next()) {
  gs.log(“The incident record that is going to be updated is “ + grIncident.number);
  gs.log("Previous Value of 'Assigned To' field: " + grIncident.assigned_to);
  grIncident.assigned_to = "NULL";
  grIncident.update();
  gs.log("Current Value of 'Assigned To' field: " + grIncident.assigned_to);
}
```

## Example 2 \(Business Rule\)

```javascript
current.u_affected_value = 'NULL';
current.update();
```

**Parent Topic:**[Writing server-side scripts](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/api-reference/scripts/server-side-scripting-overview.md)