SOAP direct web service API functions

reference australia Updated Sep 10, 2026 2 min read r_DirectWebServiceAPIFunctions.md

The standard SOAP API is a set of small, globally defined functions that can be performed on a targeted resource.

The targeted resource (or table) is defined in the URL by the format https://<instance name>.service-now.com/<table name>.do.

Method Summary	Description
insert	Creates a new record for the table targeted in the URL.
insertMultiple	Creates multiple new records for the table targeted in the URL. To enable multiple inserts, activate the Web service import sets.
update	Updates a existing record in the targeted table in the URL, identified by the mandatory sys_id field.
deleteRecord	Deletes a record from the targeted table by supplying its `sys_id`.
deleteMultiple	Delete multiple records from the targeted table by example values.

Method Summary	Description
getKeys	Query the targeted table by example values and return a comma delimited `sys_id` list.
getRecords	Query the targeted table by example values and return all matching records and their fields.
get	Query a single record from the targeted table by `sys_id` and return the record and its fields.
aggregate	Query using and aggregate functions SUM, COUNT MIN, MAX, LAST, and AVG. To enable the aggregate functions, activate the Aggregate Web Service Plugin.

Data Retrieval API
Data Retrieval API method summaries and descriptions.
Data Modification API
Data Modification API method summaries and descriptions.

Parent Topic:Direct web services

Return the display value for reference variables

Clear values from a target instance

Retrieve journal entries using direct web services

Retrieve choice fields using direct web services

Persist an HTTP session across all SOAP calls

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---
title: SOAP direct web service API functions
description: The standard SOAP API is a set of small, globally defined functions that can be performed on a targeted resource.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/api-reference/web-services/r\_DirectWebServiceAPIFunctions.html
release: australia
product: Web Services
classification: web-services
topic_type: reference
last_updated: "2026-09-10"
reading_time_minutes: 2
breadcrumb: [Direct services, SOAP web service, Inbound, Web services, API implementation, API implementation and reference]
---

# SOAP direct web service API functions

The standard SOAP API is a set of small, globally defined functions that can be performed on a targeted resource.

The targeted resource \(or table\) is defined in the URL by the format `https://<instance name>.service-now.com/<table name>.do`.

|Method Summary|Description|
|--------------|-----------|
|[insert](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/api-reference/web-services/r_Insert.md)|Creates a new record for the table targeted in the URL.|
|[insertMultiple](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/api-reference/web-services/r_InsertMultiple.md)|Creates multiple new records for the table targeted in the URL. To enable multiple inserts, activate the [Web service import sets](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/integrate-applications/c_WebServiceImportSets.md).|
|[update](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/api-reference/web-services/r_Update.md)|Updates a existing record in the targeted table in the URL, identified by the mandatory **sys\_id** field.|
|[deleteRecord](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/api-reference/web-services/r_DeleteRecord.md)|Deletes a record from the targeted table by supplying its `sys_id`.|
|[deleteMultiple](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/api-reference/web-services/r_DeleteMultiple.md)|Delete multiple records from the targeted table by example values.|

|Method Summary|Description|
|--------------|-----------|
|[getKeys](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/api-reference/web-services/r_GetKeys.md)|Query the targeted table by example values and return a comma delimited `sys_id` list.|
|[getRecords](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/api-reference/web-services/r_GetRecords.md)|Query the targeted table by example values and return all matching records and their fields.|
|get|Query a single record from the targeted table by `sys_id` and return the record and its fields.|
|[aggregate](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/api-reference/web-services/r_Aggregate.md)|Query using and aggregate functions SUM, COUNT MIN, MAX, LAST, and AVG. To enable the aggregate functions, activate the Aggregate Web Service Plugin.|

-   **[Data Retrieval API](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/api-reference/web-services/r_DataRetrievalAPI.md)**  
Data Retrieval API method summaries and descriptions.
-   **[Data Modification API](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/api-reference/web-services/r_DataModificationAPI.md)**  
Data Modification API method summaries and descriptions.

**Parent Topic:**[Direct web services](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/api-reference/web-services/c_DirectWebServices.md)

**Related topics**  


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[Return the display value for reference variables]()

[Clear values from a target instance]()

[Retrieve journal entries using direct web services]()

[Retrieve choice fields using direct web services]()

[Persist an HTTP session across all SOAP calls]()