Which data source is primarily used to build reports in ServiceNow?

The primary source of data used to build reports in ServiceNow is database tables. ServiceNow's platform is built on a structured database model where various records are stored within these tables. Each table consists of various fields (columns) that hold specific types of data, and utilizing these tables allows users to extract and analyze relevant information effectively.

When creating reports, users can access the data directly from these database tables to generate insights or visualize statistics pertaining to the records managed within the ServiceNow instance, such as incident reports, change requests, or service catalog items. The use of database tables is integral to ServiceNow's reporting capabilities, which leverage the robust data structure to provide dynamic and customizable reporting options.

Alternative sources like API integrations and external data feeds may provide additional sources of information that can be useful for specific use cases, but they are generally not the primary means for building reports in ServiceNow. Predefined templates serve as formats for reports but still rely on underlying data typically stored in database tables. Therefore, database tables are at the core of reporting functionality within the ServiceNow ecosystem.