Understanding Salesforce Data Model: Objects, Fields, and Relationships

The Salesforce Data Model is the backbone of how data is organized, stored, and linked across the platform. Understanding its structure is essential for administrators, developers, and business users alike to build efficient and scalable applications.

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? What is the Salesforce Data Model?

The Salesforce Data Model defines how different types of data are structured, related, and accessed in your Salesforce org. It’s composed primarily of:

• Objects (like tables in a database)
• Fields (like columns)
• Relationships (how records connect across objects)

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? 1. Objects

Types of Objects:

Type	Description	Examples
Standard Objects	Built-in by Salesforce	Account, Contact, Opportunity
Custom Objects	Created by users to meet specific needs	Invoice__c, Project__c
External Objects	Link to data outside Salesforce via API	ERP data, legacy systems
Big Objects	Store and manage massive volumes of data	Historical logs, audits

? Examples:

• A Contact has a lookup to an Account
• An Opportunity has a master-detail relationship with Opportunity Line Items
• A Project Assignment object acts as a junction between User and Project

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? Visualizing the Data Model

Use Schema Builder in Setup to:

• View objects and their fields
• See how objects are related
• Drag and drop to explore relationships visually

Path:
Setup → Object Manager → Schema Builder

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? Customizing the Data Model

Admins and developers can:

• Add/remove custom fields and objects
• Define relationships based on business rules
• Add validation rules and triggers for data quality

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✅ Best Practices

• Use consistent naming conventions for clarity
• Use master-detail only when necessary (affects data ownership and permissions)
• Use external IDs for integration and imports
• Document custom objects and relationships in your org

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? FAQs

Q: What’s the difference between Standard and Custom objects?
A: Standard objects come with Salesforce; custom objects are created by you.

Q: When should I use Master-Detail instead of Lookup?
A: Use master-detail when you want tight control—like cascading deletes and roll-up summaries.

Q: Can I relate a record to multiple objects?
A: Yes, using junction objects and lookup/master-detail fields.