Objects in Salesforce are closely related to database tables.
The object contains fields which are related to the column of a database table. Data stored in objects in the form of records, like rows in a database table.

Different types of objects?

  • Standard Objects
  • Custom Objects

Standard objects

These objects are provided by the force.com platform. Standard objects cannot be removed and we can extend standard objects by adding own fields to them.

What are custom objects?

Custom objects are defined by the developer. Custom objects are native components that model the data we need to store in our application. (Object is very similar to the database table in the force.com platform)

Creating Custom Objects

Click on logged in user name > setup > create > Objects > new custom objects.
Enter Label, Plural Label and object name and description fields.

Within the platform, object name is usually stored with _c appended to the end as a suffix for example Position_c in our case. This identifies it as a custom object.

Fields

In force.com platform a field is like a database column.
There are two types of fields:

  1. Standard fields (Examples: ID, Created By)
    • Standard fields are created by the force.com platform for its internal use
    • These fields cannot be removed or redefined completely
  2. Custom fields
    • Custom fields are created by the developer to store data specific to your application.

Picklists

  • Drop-down lists are called as picklists in force.com platform
  • There are 2 types of picklists in force.com
  • Standard picklist, in which the user can select only one option
  • Multi-select picklist, in which the user can select multiple options at a time

Field Dependencies

Field dependencies are the filters that allow changing the content of the picklist based on the value of another field (other picklists in our case).

Roll-Up Summary Fields

Roll-up summary fields are used to display the sum, minimum, maximum values of a field in a related list, or the count of all records listed in a related list. This data type is available only on the master object in a master-detail relationship

Custom Formula Fields

Custom formula fields are used to specify custom formula or user-defined formula for the specified field.

Relationships

A relationship field is a custom field on an object record that contains a link to another record. When we place a relationship custom field on an object, we are effectively creating a many-to-one relationship between the object on which the relationship field is placed and the other objects.
Different types are relationships:

  1.  Lookup relationship (Creates a simple relationship between two objects)
    • Master-detail relationship (creates a parent-child relationship between two fields)
  2. The object on which you create the master-detail relationship field is the child or “Detail” and the object referenced in the field is the parent or ‘Master’
    • The ownership and sharing of detail records are determined by the master record.
    • When you delete the master record, all of its detail records are automatically deleted along with it.
    • Master-detail relationship fields are always required on detail records.
    • Once you set a master-detail relationship fields value, you can’t change it
  3. Many to Many relationships
    • Many to many relationships can be created by creating a custom object with the 2 master-detail relationships

User Object

A user object is a standard object that comes with all organizations on the platform. It contains information about everyone who uses the app in your organization.

Junction Object

A junction object is a custom object with two master-detail relationships and is the key to making many-to-many relationships.

Search Layouts

Search layouts are ordered a group of fields that are displayed when a record is presented in particular contexts such as in lookup dialog, search results or a related list.

Different search layouts are:

  • Search Results
  • Lookup Dialog
  • Search Filter Fields

Create Object without tab

When you create an object with a tab, the platform provides access to that object’s record in various places other than just the tab, such as in search results and the recent items list in the sidebar area of every page.

Cross Object Formulas

Cross object formulas are formulas that span two or more objects by referencing merge fields from related records.

  • Record : Record is a collection of fields related to a specific item in Salesforce.
  • Views : Views are a list of records matching specific criteria and several standard views are available in Salesforce.