Published at: 2025-10-30
Differences Between Standard Fields and Custom Fields
Standard Fields
When creating custom objects, certain pre-built fields are automatically included as standard fields (also called system fields). These typically include:
| Field Name | Field Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Attribute | Single-line text | Uniquely identifies a record |
| Owner | Person | Specifies the record owner |
| External Owner | Person | Specifies the external owner (used in Interconnection scenarios) |
| Owning Organization | Dept. | Indicates which organization the record belongs to |
| Owning Department | Dept. | Specifies the owning department (remains unchanged when Owner field is modified) |
| Owner’s Primary Department | Single-line text | Shows the owner’s primary department (updates when Owner field changes) |
| Lock Status | Single-select | Determines whether the record is locked |
| Record Type | Record Type | Every record must have a record type |
| Lifecycle Status | Single-select | Typically used with approval workflows to indicate current record status |
| Last Modified Time | Date/Time | Timestamp of last record modification |
| Created Time | Date/Time | Timestamp of record creation |
| Last Modified By | Person | User who last modified the record |
| Created By | Person | User who created the record |
| Exchange Rate | Number | Pre-built for transaction objects when multi-currency is enabled |
| Currency | Single-select | Pre-built for transaction objects when multi-currency is enabled |
These standard fields represent common data storage requirements and cannot be deleted, though some fields support editing.
Note: When standard field data becomes redundant, we recommend either: 1. Restricting field visibility through [Role Permission Settings], or 2. Hiding the field in specific scenarios
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Non-editable system fields: Lock Status, Record Type, Lifecycle Status, External Owner, Owner’s Primary Department, Last Modified Time, Created Time, Last Modified By, Created By
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Editable system fields: Primary Attribute, Owner, Owning Department
Custom Fields
Custom fields are user-defined fields created to meet specific business requirements. For details on available field types, click here.
Additional Notes
Similarities: - Both system and custom fields contain these attributes: Field Name, API Name, Description, Created Time, Field Type, Status, and Actions - Neither field type tracks last modified time
Differences: - System fields: Field Name, API Name, Description, and Field Type are typically fixed and cannot be modified - Custom fields: Most attributes except API Name and Field Type can be modified after creation