---
title: Dot Walking To sys_id
description: Impact Area Performance                           Severity Medium                           Affected Element Business Rule Access Control Script Includes Catalog…
url: "https://community-staging.qualityclouds.com/qcdocs/qcr/rules/dot-walking-to-sys_id/"
updated: "2025-03-21"
category: Rules
---

# Dot Walking To sys_id

Impact Area

Performance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           Severity

Medium

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           Affected Element

Business Rule

Access Control

Script Includes

Catalog Client Scripts

Client Script

Script Action

Inbound Email Actions

Email Script

Widget Angular Provider

Widget

Record Producer

Scripted REST Resource

UI Action

UI Script

Rule ID

**SN-0377**

## Impact

The value of a reference field is a sys_id. When you dot-walk to the sys_id, the system does an additional database query to retrieve the referenced record, then retrieves the sys_id. This can lead to performance issues.

## Remediation

Avoid dot walking to sys_id, instead call the field as normal.

### Time to fix

10 min

## Code examples

### Noncompliant code

It is not necessary to include the sys_id of a reference field when dot-walking, as in the following example: var id = current.caller_id.sys_id; // Wrong

### Compliant code

The value of a reference field is a sys_id. When you dot-walk to the sys_id, the system does an additional database query to retrieve the caller_id record, then retrieves the sys_id. This can lead to performance issues. Instead, use the statement. var id = current.getValue(‘caller_id’); // Right