Filters and breadcrumbs
A filter is a set of conditions applied to a table to help you find and work with a subset of the data in that table.
You can apply, modify, create, and save filters. A hierarchical list of conditions at the top of the table — breadcrumbs — indicates the current filter.
Breadcrumbs offer a quick form of filter navigation. They are ordered from left to right. The left condition is the most general, and the right condition is the most specific. Clicking a breadcrumb removes all the conditions to its right. Clicking the condition separator (>) before a condition removes only that condition.
By default, a user with no roles cannot see the breadcrumbs or filter. Administrators can configure the ESS portal to allow unauthenticated users to see breadcrumbs and filters by using a script include. For more information on using script includes to suppress breadcrumbs and filters, see Use script includes to suppress filters and breadcrumbs .
[Omitted image "BreadcrumbsUI.png"] Alt text: Breadcrumbs.
Examples:
- Clicking Priority = 2 removes the condition Category = Software and returns all active incidents with a priority of 2.
- Clicking the condition separator (>) before Priority = 2 removes the condition Priority = 2 and returns all active incidents in the software category.
- Clicking All removes all conditions and returns all incidents in the system.
Click a breadcrumb to refresh the list of records and show the latest information for those records.
Note: Clicking the New button in a filtered list automatically applies the same filter to the new record. For example, clicking New in the Resolved Incidents list opens a record preset with State set to Resolved. In a list filtered for active, priority 1 incidents, clicking New opens a record preset with Active selected and Priority set to 1 - Critical.
You can change the preset values on the form as needed. If there is a field you do not want to have populated in this way, you can add the following dictionary attribute to the field: ignore_filter_on_new=true.
Additional navigational functions are available when you right-click a breadcrumb.
|
Option |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Open new window |
Opens the results list for the breadcrumb in a new tab or window. |
|
Copy URL |
Copies the URL to the clipboard for the results list of the breadcrumb. Follow browser instructions if browser security measures restrict this function. |
|
Copy query |
Copies the encoded query to the clipboard for the breadcrumb. You can use this query in the URL of an instance or in the reference qualifier field of a dictionary entry.For example, if you are viewing a list of all active incidents with a high or medium impact, right-click the breadcrumb and copy the query active=true^impact=1^ORimpact=2. You can append this query to the end of the instance URL as follows:
This selection is not available for the All breadcrumb. |
Parent Topic:Lists in the classic environment
Related topics
---
title: Filters and breadcrumbs
description: A filter is a set of conditions applied to a table to help you find and work with a subset of the data in that table.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/platform-user-interface/c\_UsingFiltersAndBreadcrumbs.html
release: australia
topic_type: concept
last_updated: "2026-09-10"
reading_time_minutes: 3
breadcrumb: [Lists in the classic environment, Working in the classic environment, Working in Core UI, Configure UIs and portals, Configure user experiences]
---
# Filters and breadcrumbs
A filter is a set of conditions applied to a table to help you find and work with a subset of the data in that table.
You can apply, modify, create, and save filters. A hierarchical list of conditions at the top of the table — breadcrumbs — indicates the current filter.
Breadcrumbs offer a quick form of filter navigation. They are ordered from left to right. The left condition is the most general, and the right condition is the most specific. Clicking a breadcrumb removes all the conditions to its right. Clicking the condition separator \(>\) before a condition removes only that condition.
By default, a user with no roles cannot see the breadcrumbs or filter. Administrators can configure the ESS portal to allow unauthenticated users to see breadcrumbs and filters by using a script include. For more information on using script includes to suppress breadcrumbs and filters, see [Use script includes to suppress filters and breadcrumbs](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/platform-administration/t_SuppressFiltersScriptInclude.md) .
\[Omitted image "BreadcrumbsUI.png"\] Alt text: Breadcrumbs.
Examples:
- Clicking **Priority = 2** removes the condition **Category = Software** and returns all active incidents with a priority of 2.
- Clicking the condition separator \(>\) before **Priority = 2** removes the condition **Priority = 2** and returns all active incidents in the software category.
- Clicking **All** removes all conditions and returns all incidents in the system.
Click a breadcrumb to refresh the list of records and show the latest information for those records.
**Note:** Clicking the **New** button in a filtered list automatically applies the same filter to the new record. For example, clicking **New** in the Resolved Incidents list opens a record preset with **State** set to **Resolved**. In a list filtered for active, priority 1 incidents, clicking **New** opens a record preset with **Active** selected and **Priority** set to **1 - Critical**.
You can change the preset values on the form as needed. If there is a field you do not want to have populated in this way, you can add the following dictionary attribute to the field: **ignore\_filter\_on\_new=true**.
Additional navigational functions are available when you right-click a breadcrumb.
<table id="table_wr2_3mw_tt"><thead><tr><th>
Option
</th><th>
Description
</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>
Open new window
</td><td>
Opens the results list for the breadcrumb in a new tab or window.
</td></tr><tr><td>
Copy URL
</td><td>
Copies the URL to the clipboard for the results list of the breadcrumb. Follow browser instructions if browser security measures restrict this function.
</td></tr><tr><td>
Copy query
</td><td>
Copies the encoded query to the clipboard for the breadcrumb. You can use this query in the URL of an instance or in the reference qualifier field of a dictionary entry.For example, if you are viewing a list of all active incidents with a high or medium impact, right-click the breadcrumb and copy the query **active=true^impact=1^ORimpact=2**. You can append this query to the end of the instance URL as follows:
`https://{instance_name}/incident_list.do?sysparm_query=active=true^impact=1^ORimpact=2`
This selection is not available for the **All** breadcrumb.
</td></tr></tbody>
</table>- **[Quick filters](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/platform-user-interface/c_QuickFilters.md)**
To quickly filter a list using a value in a field, right-click in the field and select **Show Matching** or **Filter Out**. For date fields, choose from **Show Before**, **Show After**, and **Filter Out**.
- **[Filters](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/platform-user-interface/c_Filters.md)**
A filter restricts what records appear in a list by providing a set of conditions each record must meet to be included in the list.
- **[Save and use filters in a list view](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/platform-user-interface/t_SavingFilters.md)**
Depending on your access rights, you may save filters for everyone, a user group, or yourself. You can apply saved filters and edit or delete them.
- **[Filter admin functions](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/platform-user-interface/filter-admin-functions.md)**
Administrators can work with filters in the Filters table \[sys\_filter\], including creating, editing, and deleting filters.
- **[Encoded query strings](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/platform-user-interface/c_EncodedQueryStrings.md)**
An encoded query string represents a complex filter on a list of records.
**Parent Topic:**[Lists in the classic environment](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/platform-user-interface/c_UseLists.md)
**Related topics**
[Dictionary attributes](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/platform-administration/c_DictionaryAttributes.md)
[Generate an encoded query string through a filter](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/platform-user-interface/t_GenEncodQueryStringFilter.md)
| title | Filters and breadcrumbs |
| description | A filter is a set of conditions applied to a table to help you find and work with a subset of the data in that table. |
| locale | en-US |
| canonical_url | https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/platform-user-interface/c\_UsingFiltersAndBreadcrumbs.html |
| release | australia |
| topic_type | concept |
| last_updated | 2026-09-10 |
| reading_time_minutes | 3 |
| breadcrumb | Lists in the classic environmentWorking in the classic environmentWorking in Core UIConfigure UIs and portalsConfigure user experiences |