When is the Merge Table operation typically used in a pattern?

The Merge Table operation is used as a final step to consolidate tables in a pattern execution. This step is crucial as it allows different data sources or tables that have been processed throughout the pattern to be combined into a single output. By merging these tables, the workflow can deliver a unified view of all relevant data, which can then be utilized for further analysis or tasks.

This consolidation ensures that any duplicated or related information is streamlined, improving the efficiency of data handling within ServiceNow. Patterns often involve multiple steps that gather and process data, and the Merge Table operation ultimately synthesizes this information to provide a comprehensive set of results that can be acted upon.

The other options do not align with the typical use of the Merge Table operation. For instance, using it as an initial step would not make sense since there wouldn’t be any data to merge at that point. Formatting variable data is a different operation that does not involve merging tables. Initiating a debug process is also unrelated, as debugging would typically occur during the execution of operations, rather than as a part of merging tables.