In the realm of Salesforce, understanding data modeling, management, security, and sharing is crucial for any developer or administrator. Here are 50 important interview questions divided into sections for data modeling and management, and security and sharing.
Data Modeling and Management
1. What is a custom object in Salesforce?
A custom object is a database table that allows you to store data unique to your organization. Custom objects are created to extend Salesforce’s capabilities to fit specific business needs.
2. Explain the different types of relationships in Salesforce.
- Master-Detail Relationship: A strong relationship where the child record is dependent on the parent. Deleting the parent deletes the child.
- Lookup Relationship: A looser relationship where the child can exist independently of the parent.
- Junction Object: Used to create many-to-many relationships between objects.
3. What is a junction object and how is it used?
A junction object is a custom object with two master-detail relationships, used to create many-to-many relationships between two objects.
4. What is a schema builder?
Schema Builder is a dynamic environment provided by Salesforce to add new custom objects, fields, and relationships to your schema.
5. What are Record Types in Salesforce?
Record Types allow you to offer different business processes, picklist values, and page layouts to different users based on their profiles.
6. What is a Page Layout?
A Page Layout determines the organization and visibility of fields, related lists, and other components on a record detail and edit pages.
7. What are Compact Layouts?
Compact Layouts control which fields your users see in the highlights panel at the top of a record.
8. What is Field Dependency?
Field Dependency is a filter that changes the contents of a picklist based on the value of another field.
9. What are Roll-Up Summary Fields?
Roll-Up Summary Fields calculate values from related records, such as the sum, maximum, minimum, or average of a set of child records.
10. What are Validation Rules?
Validation Rules verify that the data entered by users meets the specified standards before the record is saved.
11. What is a Custom Field?
A Custom Field is a field that you create on standard or custom objects to capture additional information specific to your business.
12. What are Formula Fields?
Formula Fields are custom fields that automatically calculate a value based on other fields, expressions, or formulas.
13. What is a Lookup Filter?
A Lookup Filter restricts the valid values and lookup dialog results for a lookup, master-detail, or hierarchical relationship.
14. What is a Dependent Picklist?
A Dependent Picklist is a picklist for which the available options depend on the value chosen in another picklist.
15. What is a Global Picklist?
A Global Picklist is a set of picklist values that can be shared across multiple objects, ensuring consistency in data values.
16. What is a Change Set?
A Change Set is a means by which you can deploy customizations from one Salesforce org to another.
17. What is the difference between an object and a field?
An object is a database table, and a field is a column in that table. Objects store records, and fields store data within those records.
18. What is Schema Builder?
Schema Builder is a tool within Salesforce that provides a graphical interface for viewing and modifying your schema.
19. What is a Hierarchical Relationship?
A Hierarchical Relationship is a special type of lookup relationship available only for the User object. It creates a relationship between one user and another user or itself.
20. How do you import data into Salesforce?
You can import data using Data Import Wizard, Data Loader, or third-party tools.
21. What is the difference between Data Import Wizard and Data Loader?
Data Import Wizard is a simple tool for importing common standard objects and custom objects, whereas Data Loader is more powerful, supports larger data volumes, and allows for data export, deletion, and updating.
22. What is an External ID?
An External ID is a custom field that uniquely identifies a record from an external system.
23. What are Big Objects in Salesforce?
Big Objects are used to store and manage large volumes of data within Salesforce without affecting standard object performance.
24. What is a Deletion Process?
A Deletion Process involves removing records from Salesforce using tools like Data Loader, the Mass Delete feature, or Apex code.
25. What are Custom Metadata Types?
Custom Metadata Types allow you to define and manage metadata within Salesforce, making it easier to deploy and manage application configuration.
Security and Sharing
26. What are Profiles in Salesforce?
Profiles control what users can see and do in Salesforce, including object permissions, field permissions, and user permissions.
27. What is the difference between Roles and Profiles?
Roles control what records users can see in the hierarchy, while Profiles control what users can do within Salesforce.
28. What are Permission Sets?
Permission Sets are collections of settings and permissions that give users access to various tools and functions without changing their profiles.
29. What is Org-Wide Default (OWD)?
Org-Wide Default settings determine the default level of access users have to each other’s records.
30. What are Sharing Rules?
Sharing Rules allow you to open up record access to users based on their role or criteria, providing exceptions to Org-Wide Default settings.
31. What is Field-Level Security?
Field-Level Security controls user access to individual fields within an object.
32. What is the Role Hierarchy?
The Role Hierarchy grants users access to records owned by or shared with users below them in the hierarchy.
33. What is Manual Sharing?
Manual Sharing allows users to share individual records with other users or groups who do not have access through OWD, role hierarchy, or sharing rules.
34. What are Public Groups?
Public Groups are sets of users that you can use to simplify the creation of sharing rules. They can contain individual users, roles, and other groups.
35. What is a Sharing Set?
A Sharing Set grants record access to users based on their profile and the record owner’s role or territory.
36. What are Profile Settings?
Profile Settings control what users can see and do in Salesforce, including app and system permissions.
37. What is the difference between Profile and Permission Set?
A Profile is assigned to a user to define their base permissions, while Permission Sets are used to grant additional permissions on top of those in the profile.
38. What is a Login IP Range?
Login IP Ranges restrict where users can log in from, adding a layer of security by limiting login access to specified IP addresses.
39. What is Login Hours?
Login Hours restrict when users can log in to Salesforce, ensuring that access is only granted during approved hours.
40. What is the use of My Domain in Salesforce?
My Domain allows you to create a custom domain for your Salesforce org, enhancing security and enabling features like single sign-on (SSO) and Lightning components.
41. What is Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)?
Two-Factor Authentication requires users to verify their identity with two methods: their password and a verification code sent to their mobile device or email.
42. What is Single Sign-On (SSO)?
Single Sign-On allows users to log in to multiple applications with a single set of credentials, improving security and user experience.
43. What is the difference between Role and Role Hierarchy?
A Role defines the level of access users have to records, while a Role Hierarchy determines the visibility of records based on the user’s role.
44. What is a Territory in Salesforce?
A Territory is a way to manage and segment sales team assignments and data access based on geographic regions, product lines, or other criteria.
45. What is Field History Tracking?
Field History Tracking allows you to track changes to values in specified fields and view the change history of those fields.
46. What is Shield Platform Encryption?
Shield Platform Encryption adds an extra layer of security by encrypting sensitive data at rest, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
47. What is Event Monitoring?
Event Monitoring provides detailed performance, security, and usage data on all user activity within Salesforce.
48. What is the Data Mask?
Data Mask allows you to obfuscate sensitive data in sandboxes, ensuring that data privacy is maintained during development and testing.
49. What is Salesforce Shield?
Salesforce Shield is a set of security tools, including Event Monitoring, Field Audit Trail, and Platform Encryption, designed to enhance data protection and compliance.
50. How do you manage data access in Salesforce?
Data access is managed using a combination of Org-Wide Defaults, Role Hierarchy, Sharing Rules, Profiles, and Permission Sets to ensure the right users have the right access.
Conclusion
Understanding data modeling, management, security, and sharing is essential for any Salesforce professional. Preparing for these questions will give you a strong foundation for any Salesforce role. Good luck with your interview preparation!
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