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Data

What is Data Loader in Salesforce?

Data Loader is a Salesforce desktop application for bulk importing, exporting, updating, deleting, and upserting large volumes of records.

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Term Context

Category

Data

13 terms in this category

Related Terms

4

connected concepts

Glossary

66

total definitions

How does Data Loader work in Salesforce?

Data Loader handles operations on up to 5 million records per job, making it the go-to tool for data migrations, mass updates, and scheduled extracts. It supports CSV input/output and connects via either the Bulk API (optimized for large datasets processed in batches) or the SOAP API (better for smaller, real-time operations). Data Loader can be run interactively through its GUI or automated via command-line mode with process-conf.xml configuration files on Windows.

Key features include field mapping (matching CSV columns to Salesforce fields), upsert via external IDs to avoid duplicates, and hard-delete for permanent removal bypassing the Recycle Bin. Because Data Loader does not enforce validation rules by default in certain API contexts, admins must test in a sandbox before running against production. For teams that want a browser-based alternative without desktop installation, Salesforce also offers the Data Import Wizard for simpler jobs under 50,000 records.

Questions people ask

What is Salesforce Data Loader?

A free desktop tool from Salesforce that imports, updates, deletes and exports records in bulk using CSV files.

Is Data Loader free?

Yes. It is free to download and use. You need a Salesforce user with API access.

How many records can Data Loader handle?

Up to 5 million records per operation, which is far more than the 50,000 limit of the Data Import Wizard.

What operations does Data Loader support?

Insert, update, upsert, delete, hard delete, export and export all.

Related Salesforce Terms

4 terms

Data Import Wizard

Data

The Data Import Wizard is a browser tool in Salesforce Setup that imports up to 50,000 records from a CSV into standard and custom objects. It can insert, update or upsert, but it cannot delete or export.

Custom Object

Data

A Custom Object is a user-defined database table in Salesforce that stores data specific to your organization's unique business needs.

Custom Field

Data

A Custom Field is a user-defined field added to a standard or custom object in Salesforce to capture data not covered by out-of-the-box fields.

Validation Rule

Data

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.

What should I read next?

Data Loader Complete GuideData Loader vs Import WizardSalesforce Data Operations

More in Data

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Data Import Wizard

The Data Import Wizard is a browser tool in Salesforce Setup that imports up to 50,000 records from a CSV into standard and custom objects. It can insert, update or upsert, but it cannot delete or export.

Custom Object

A Custom Object is a user-defined database table in Salesforce that stores data specific to your organization's unique business needs.

Custom Field

A Custom Field is a user-defined field added to a standard or custom object in Salesforce to capture data not covered by out-of-the-box fields.

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.

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