Standard CRM object relationship architecture
Key Takeaway
The relationship type you choose (master-detail, lookup, or many-to-many through a junction object) decides how linked records handle deletion, sharing, and required fields.
Salesforce stores data in objects. Some objects come built in, and others you create. Relationships link objects, so users viewing one record can also see related data.
Objects, fields, and records
A data model is the collection of objects and fields in an app. An object is like a database table: its fields are like columns, and its records are like rows. For example, the Account object holds many records that share the same structure.
| What it is | Examples | |
|---|---|---|
| Standard objects | Included with Salesforce | Account, Contact, Lead, Opportunity |
| Custom objects | Objects you create for information specific to your company or industry | A Property object for a realty company |
Salesforce also supports external objects, platform events, and BigObjects.