---
title: Core UI
description: The Core UI predates the Next Experience UI.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/platform-user-interface/c\_UI16.html
release: australia
topic_type: concept
last_updated: "2026-03-12"
reading_time_minutes: 2
breadcrumb: [Working in Core UI, Configure UIs and portals, Configure user experiences]
---

# Core UI

The Core UI predates the Next Experience UI.

Watch the video above to learn about the elements of the Core UI.

Notable features include real-time form updates, user presence, a pinned application navigator with tabs for favorites and history, and activity streams.

\[Omitted image "UI16.png"\] Alt text: A list viewed in Core UI.

<table id="tbl_UserInterfaceComponents"><thead><tr><th>

Component

</th><th>

Description

</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>

Banner frame

</td><td>

Runs across the top of every page and contains a logo and the following information, controls, and tools.-   User menu provides options to access your profile and preferences. Administrators can impersonate users and elevate their security role.
-   Connect sidebar icon \(\[Omitted image "IconUI16ToggleConnectSidebar.png"\] Alt text: Connect sidebar icon\): Lets you begin or continue conversations. This icon is available if Connect is enabled.
-   Global text search icon \(\[Omitted image "IconUI16Search.png"\] Alt text: Global text search icon\): Finds records from multiple tables.
-   Help icon \(\[Omitted image "IconUI16Help.png"\] Alt text: Help icon\): Opens the help panel with embedded help, where available. If there is no embedded help, it offers help search options.
-   Gear icon \(\[Omitted image "IconUI16Gear.png"\] Alt text: Gear icon\): Opens the [System settings for the Core UI](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/platform-user-interface/r_UI16BannerFrame.md).

</td></tr><tr><td>

Application navigator

</td><td>

Also called the left-navigation bar. Provides links to all applications and modules. See [Core UI application navigator](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/platform-user-interface/c_UI16ApplicationNavigator.md).

</td></tr><tr><td>

Content frame

</td><td>

Displays information such as lists, forms, dashboards, and wizards.

</td></tr><tr><td>

The Edge

</td><td>

The Edge is removed in Core UI. The collapsed view of the Core UI application navigator is similar to the Edge.

</td></tr></tbody>
</table>-   **[Activate Core UI](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/platform-user-interface/t_ActivateUI16.md)**  
Core UI can be activated with the Core UI plugin \(com.glide.ui.ui16\) if you have the admin role.
-   **[Core UI application navigator](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/platform-user-interface/c_UI16ApplicationNavigator.md)**  
The Core UI application navigator appears at the left of the interface and provides access to all available applications and modules, favorites, and recently viewed items.
-   **[System settings for the Core UI](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/platform-user-interface/r_UI16BannerFrame.md)**  
You can define system settings to customize the Core UI for yourself. The gear icon, located within the banner frame, displays the system settings window.

**Parent Topic:**[Working in Core UI](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/platform-user-interface/working-in-ui16-and-ui15.md)

**Related topics**  


[Working in the classic environment]()

[Common UI elements]()

[Browser support]()

[Core UI keyboard shortcuts]()

[User interface configuration]()

[Configure logo, colors, and system defaults for Core UI](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/platform-user-interface/t_ConfigureLogoColorsSysDfltsUI16.md)