Custom Field Explained
Salesforce offers over 20 custom field types, including Text, Number, Currency, Date, Picklist, Multi-Select Picklist, Lookup, Formula, Roll-Up Summary, and Encrypted Text. Each custom field has an API name ending in __c and can be configured with a help text, default value, and field-level security settings that control visibility per profile or permission set. Fields can be made required at the field level, through page layouts, or via validation rules for conditional enforcement.
Formula fields compute values in real time from other fields on the same or related objects and consume no storage but count toward the compiled formula character limit. Roll-Up Summary fields aggregate child records on master-detail relationships (SUM, COUNT, MIN, MAX). Understanding field type implications (such as picklist vs. text for reporting, or lookup vs. master-detail for cascade delete behavior) is essential for a clean data model. Clientell AI can audit your org's field usage, identify unused fields, and recommend cleanup strategies.
Related Salesforce Terms
Custom Object
A Custom Object is a user-defined database table in Salesforce that stores data specific to your organization's unique business needs.
Validation Rule
A Validation Rule is a formula-based check in Salesforce that prevents users from saving a record if the data does not meet specified criteria.
Field-Level Security (FLS)
Field-Level Security controls which users can see and edit specific fields on Salesforce objects, enforced at the profile and permission set level.
Profile
A Profile in Salesforce defines the baseline set of permissions, page layout assignments, and system settings that apply to every user assigned to it.