A **software application** in the context of the [[Common Service Data Model|Common Service Data Model]] (CSDM), a reference architecture developed by [[ServiceNow|ServiceNow]] that provides prescriptive guidance on service-related definitions and data modeling within the ServiceNow AI Platform, may refer to one of several distinct entities depending on the domain and life cycle stage. Understanding the distinction between these entities is essential for proper CSDM implementation and avoiding data model confusion. The primary software application entities in CSDM include: [[Business Application (CSDM)|Business Application (CSDM)]] in the [[Design & Planning (CSDM domain)|Design & Planning domain]], representing the version-agnostic logical inventory or portfolio of applications used for planning, rationalization, and enterprise architecture purposes—this is not an operational [[Configuration item|CI]] and should not be used in [[Incident management (ITSM)|Incident]], [[Problem management|Problem]], or [[Change management (ITSM)|Change]] processes; [[Application (CSDM)|Application]] in the [[Service Delivery (CSDM domain)|Service Delivery domain]], representing discoverable installed programs or running processes on specific compute infrastructure, typically created and maintained by [[ServiceNow Discovery|ServiceNow Discovery]] rather than manual population; and [[Application Service (CSDM)|Application Service (CSDM)]] in the Service Delivery domain, representing a [[Service Instance (CSDM)|Service Instance]] of a deployed Business Application or application stack across environments (development, test, production) or geographies, which is an operational CI used for ITSM processes and [[Impact analysis (ServiceNow)|impact analysis]]. [[SDLC Component (CSDM)|SDLC Component (CSDM)]] in the [[Build & Integration (CSDM domain)|Build & Integration domain]] represents individually developed pieces of a Business Application such as microservices or APIs.