Service Portal / Widgets

Portal browse taxonomy

Provides users with a structured and categorized way to navigate and find content

This widget is only available with the UI Components for Customer Portals application installed from the ServiceNow Store.

Overview

  • Release version
    Zurich
  • Available sinceWashington DC
  • A11Y WCAG 2.1 AA

The Portal browse taxonomy widget enhances content discoverability within portals through hierarchical classification. It enables users to navigate knowledge articles, catalog items, and service offerings via structured categories in a navigation pane. This reduces search time and improves resource discovery efficiency.

ServiceNow Docs link
Portal browse taxonomy widget documentation

Additional information about the widget

Figma link
Customer Portal Figma library

Service Portal Figma library

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When to use

Use this widget when users need to navigate large volumes of content from service catalogs and knowledge bases.

When not to use

Avoid this widget for simple, flat content lists or minimal hierarchies. Use search bars or direct links instead when content doesn't require categorical browsing.

Usage

The Portal browse taxonomy widget is ideal for scenarios where information requires hierarchical organization and categorization.

Examples:

  • Knowledge management systems: Enterprise knowledge bases that require organized article categorization, enabling users to browse through structured topics and find relevant documentation without relying solely on search functionality.
  • Service catalogs with multiple tiers: Complex service offerings organized in hierarchical structures, allowing users to navigate through categories, subcategories, and specific service items in an intuitive manner.
  • Portal interfaces for content discovery: Allow for browsing and exploring available resources is a primary activity, providing an alternative to search-based navigation for users who prefer structured exploration.

Anatomy

The Portal browse taxonomy widget consists of the following components:

Desktop Breakpoint

Portal browse taxonomy widget anatomy desktop

Navigation Pane:

  1. Header: Displays the taxonomy title (e.g., "Browse categories")
  2. Category list: Scrollable list of top-level categories for initial navigation

Content View:

  1. Parent item header: Displays the selected category from the category list
  2. Tabs: Displays tab content type when selected
  3. Sort dropdown: Reorder displayed items by name, date, relevance, or other criteria
  4. Content grid: Displays content in a grid view for this breakpoint
  5. Pagination: Navigate through additional content when results exceed the current view

Mobile breakpoint

Portal browse taxonomy widget anatomy mobile

Navigation Pane:

  1. Category list: When tapped, opens a scrollable list of all categories

Content View:

  1. Parent item header: Displays the selected category from the category list
  2. Tabs: Displays tab content type when selected
  3. Sort dropdown: Reorder displayed items by name, date, relevance, or other criteria
  4. Content list: Displays content in a single column list view for this breakpoint
  5. Pagination: Navigate through additional content when results exceed the current view

Instance options

Behavior

Field Description
Records per view The number of catalog items and knowledge articles to appear by default on the widget. The default value is 9.
Glyph for article cards The glyph to appear on the cards for knowledge articles, which is chosen from a set of predefined glyphs.
Show author Option to display the author's name
Show view count Option to display the total number of views of an article
Show last updated Option to display the date of the last changes made to an article.
Show rating Option to display the rating received on an article.
Article view page The article page that opens when the article card is accessed.
Catalog card display style The display style of a catalog card inside the widget. The available choices are:
  • Icon: An image that appears next to a catalog item. Each catalog item can have its own image. This image is defined by the catalog item entry in the Catalog item [sc_catalog_item] table.
  • Glyph: Glyph that appears next to all catalog items.
The default display style is Icon.
Glyph for catalog items Displays a window to select a symbol for a catalog items.
Note: The value in this field is used only when Glyph is selected in the Catalog Card Display Style field.
Catalog item page The Catalog item page that opens when the catalog item is accessed.
By default, this field is set to the Catalog Item [sc_cat_item] table.
Display icons for topics Option to display an icon for the taxonomy topics.

Usability

The Portal browse taxonomy complies with all internationalization and accessibility requirements.

Internationalization

Portal browse taxonomy widget internationalization

Accessibility

Learn how to access the actionable elements of the Portal browse taxonomy through keyboard interactions and screen readers. 

Portal browse taxonomy tab order

Portal browse taxonomy widget tab order

Keyboard interactions

You can access the actionable elements of the Portal browse taxonomy with these keyboard interactions:

  • Tab: Moves focuses from the navigation pane, to the tabs, sort, and then the content grid/container
  • Arrow keys (left/right): Navigates between navigation and container