Create data structure

task brazil Updated Sep 10, 2026 1 min read create-data-structure.md

Organize multiple data variables into a structure to process them as a unit and identify the individual items within it.

Before you begin

Role required: action_designer, flow_designer, or admin
Create an action in Workflow Studio or Create a subflow in Workflow Studio

About this task

A data structure is a collection of related data elements organized into a hierarchy. Each element in a data structure has its own data type and its own unique position in the hierarchy.

Procedure

Create a data variable.

Action or subflow input Click Create Input

Action or subflow output Click Create Output

XML parser step See XML parser step
Set Type to Object.

The top level of a data structure hierarchy must be an Object variable.
Click the Add Child Item icon.

Workflow Studio adds a child data variable to the bottom of the object list.

Note: You can insert a child item variable between existing variables by hovering your mouse pointer between two variables, and click the insert item icon ([Omitted image "insert-child-icon.png"] Alt text: Insert item icon) that appears.

When hovering your mouse pointer between a child and sibling variable, you will see a add child icon ([Omitted image "insert-item-icon.png"] Alt text: Insert child item icon). Click the left side of the icon to add a new sibling variable to the child's parent, or the right side to add another child variable under the current variable.
Set the child variable Label and Type.

To add another branch to the data structure hierarchy, set the Type to Object.
Repeat steps 3-4 for each data variable in the hierarchy.


Action or subflow input	Click Create Input
Action or subflow output	Click Create Output
XML parser step	See XML parser step

What to do next

Use the data structure to populate action, step, or subflow inputs. If you can reuse the data structure, save it as a template.

Parent Topic:Complex data

63 lines · 3.0 KB Wrap lines

---
title: Create data structure
description: Organize multiple data variables into a structure to process them as a unit and identify the individual items within it.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/build-workflows/workflow-studio/create-data-structure.html
release: brazil
product: Workflow Studio
classification: workflow-studio
topic_type: task
last_updated: "2026-09-10"
reading_time_minutes: 1
breadcrumb: [Complex data, Build actions, Flows, subflows, and actions, Workflow Studio, Build workflows]
---

# Create data structure

Organize multiple data variables into a structure to process them as a unit and identify the individual items within it.

## Before you begin

- Role required: action\_designer, flow\_designer, or admin
- [Create an action in Workflow Studio](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/brazil/markdown/build-workflows/workflow-studio/create-action.md) or [Create a subflow in Workflow Studio](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/brazil/markdown/build-workflows/workflow-studio/create-subflow.md)

## About this task

A data structure is a collection of related data elements organized into a hierarchy. Each element in a data structure has its own data type and its own unique position in the hierarchy.

## Procedure

1. Create a data variable.

| | |
|---|---|
|**Action or subflow input**|Click **Create Input**|
|**Action or subflow output**|Click **Create Output**|
|**XML parser step**|See [XML parser step](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/brazil/markdown/integrate-applications/xml-parser-step-action-designer.md)|

2. Set **Type** to **Object**.

The top level of a data structure hierarchy must be an Object variable.

3. Click the **Add Child Item** icon.

Workflow Studio adds a child data variable to the bottom of the object list.

**Note:** You can insert a child item variable between existing variables by hovering your mouse pointer between two variables, and click the insert item icon \(\[Omitted image "insert-child-icon.png"\] Alt text: Insert item icon\) that appears.

When hovering your mouse pointer between a child and sibling variable, you will see a add child icon \(\[Omitted image "insert-item-icon.png"\] Alt text: Insert child item icon\). Click the left side of the icon to add a new sibling variable to the child's parent, or the right side to add another child variable under the current variable.

4. Set the child variable **Label** and **Type**.

To add another branch to the data structure hierarchy, set the Type to Object.

5. Repeat steps 3-4 for each data variable in the hierarchy.

## What to do next

Use the data structure to populate action, step, or subflow inputs. If you can reuse the data structure, save it as a template.

**Parent Topic:**[Complex data](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/brazil/markdown/build-workflows/workflow-studio/complex-data.md)