Invalid Syntax

What are some syntax errors you might get in ServiceNow?

ServiceNow utilizes ECMAScript 5 for its JavaScript implementation, which is an older version compared to current standards. This may result in developers encountering syntax errors that are not present in the more recent versions of ECMAScript when working with ServiceNow.

For example, in ECMAScript 5 and ServiceNow, it's mandatory to use semi-colons to end statements. If you don't include them, it will cause a syntax error. So, it's recommended to include semi-colons in the code to avoid any errors in the scripts.

Why is this an issue?

The main problems with having syntax errors in JavaScript or ServiceNow are:

• They can prevent the code from running or executing properly, which can cause the intended functionality to not work as expected.

• They can make it difficult to identify and fix the underlying issue, increasing the time and effort required to debug and troubleshoot the code.

• They can also lead to unintended consequences or security vulnerabilities in the application, putting sensitive data at risk.

In summary, syntax errors can have a significant impact on the performance, usability and security of an application, and it is important to test and debug the code to ensure that there are no syntax errors before deploying it to a production environment.

How do I fix it?

Errors in the syntax of ServiceNow scripts are usually flagged, making them easy to identify.

Here is an example of errors you might encounter when coding.

1. Can't compile the when the function does not have a name:

1
2
3
function(parameter1, parameter2) {

};

2. Missing Parentheses:

1
2
3
function addNumbers(x, y {
  return x + y;
}