Return Value workflow activity

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

The Return Value activity returns a value to a parent workflow, when run from a subflow.

This activity has no variables or conditions. For more information, see Workflows used as subflows.

Use this activity within a subflow to store data that the parent flow can access. The Return Value activity adds the data from the subflow's value variable to the parent workflow's scratchpad.

Scratchpad entries

The activity uses the workflow scratchpad to read and write persistent values.

Variable	Description
value	The activity writes the value from the subflow value variable to the parent scratchpad. The parent workflow activity that runs the subflow includes a Map return value to variable that defines where the parent workflow stores the returned data. This data can be scalar, a stringifiable JavaScript object, or an expression that evaluates to a stringifiable JavaScript object.

Related topics

Workflow scratchpad variables

Using variables in a workflow

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---
title: Return Value workflow activity
description: The Return Value activity returns a value to a parent workflow, when run from a subflow.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/build-workflows/workflow-activities/r\_ReturnValueActivity.html
release: australia
product: Workflow Activities
classification: workflow-activities
topic_type: reference
last_updated: "2026-09-10"
reading_time_minutes: 1
breadcrumb: [Utility workflow activities, Workflow activities reference, Workflow activities, Classic Workflow, Build workflows]
---

# Return Value workflow activity

The **Return Value** activity returns a value to a parent workflow, when run from a subflow.

This activity has no variables or conditions. For more information, see [Workflows used as subflows](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/build-workflows/legacy-workflow/workflows-as-subflows.md).

Use this activity within a subflow to store data that the parent flow can access. The **Return Value** activity adds the data from the subflow's *value* variable to the parent workflow's [scratchpad](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/build-workflows/legacy-workflow/c_UsingVariablesInAWorkflow.md).

## Scratchpad entries

The activity uses the workflow scratchpad to read and write persistent values.

|Variable|Description|
|--------|-----------|
|value|The activity writes the value from the subflow *value* variable to the parent scratchpad. The parent workflow activity that runs the subflow includes a *Map return value to* variable that defines where the parent workflow stores the returned data. This data can be scalar, a stringifiable JavaScript object, or an expression that evaluates to a stringifiable JavaScript object.|

**Related topics**  


[Workflow scratchpad variables](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/build-workflows/legacy-workflow/c_UsingVariablesInAWorkflow.md)

[Using variables in a workflow](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/build-workflows/legacy-workflow/c_UsingVariablesInAWorkflow.md)