Plain-English definitions of the core Salesforce terms for the Platform App Builder exam. Simplified for learning; Salesforce documentation is authoritative.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Lightning Platform | Salesforce’s low-code platform for building apps with clicks and, when needed, code. |
| Declarative | Building with point-and-click configuration rather than writing code. |
| Programmatic | Building with code (Apex, Lightning Web Components); outside this exam’s focus. |
| App | A collection of tabs and items grouped for a set of users. |
| Tab | A navigation entry that exposes an object, page or web content in an app. |
| Standard object | A built-in object such as Account, Contact or Opportunity. |
| Custom object | An object you create to store data specific to your business. |
| Field | A single piece of data on a record; its field type sets what it can hold. |
| Lookup relationship | A loose link between two objects; the child can exist without the parent. |
| Master-detail relationship | A tight parent-child link with ownership, cascade delete and roll-up summaries. |
| Junction object | A custom object with two master-detail relationships, creating a many-to-many. |
| Formula field | A read-only field calculated per record from other fields at read time. |
| Roll-up summary field | A field on a master-detail parent that aggregates child records (COUNT, SUM, MIN, MAX). |
| Validation rule | A rule that blocks a save when data does not meet a condition. |
| Flow | Salesforce’s declarative automation tool for building business processes. |
| Screen flow | A Flow that guides a user through screens to collect or show data. |
| Record-triggered flow | A Flow that runs automatically when a record is created, updated or deleted. |
| Scheduled flow | A Flow that runs on a set schedule. |
| Autolaunched flow | A Flow with no UI, started by another process such as another Flow. |
| Lightning App Builder | The drag-and-drop tool for building app, home and record pages. |
| Record page | A Lightning page that lays out a single record’s details and components. |
| Page layout | Controls field and section arrangement, and related lists, on a record. |
| List view | A saved, filtered list of records for an object. |
| Sandbox | A copy of an org used to build and test safely, separate from production. |
| Production org | The live org your users work in day to day. |
| Change set | A package of metadata moved between related orgs (e.g. sandbox to production). |
| Managed package | A versioned, upgradeable package, typically distributed via the AppExchange. |
| Unmanaged package | A one-time bundle of metadata that the recipient then owns and edits. |
| AppExchange | Salesforce’s marketplace for installable apps and components. |
| Maintenance module | The free Trailhead module that keeps a credential active each release. |