# Repeat records, child Flexcards and recursive layouts

*Omnistudio Developer Study Guide · Flexcards · Last updated October 27, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/omnistudio-developer/flexcards/repeat-records-child-flexcards-and-recursive-layouts*

How Repeat Records and the render key turn data source records into cards, when to deselect Repeat Records, and how child Flexcards receive parent data through Data Node, attributes and Is Recursive for multi-level layouts.

- Certification: Salesforce Omnistudio Developer
- Exam section: Flexcards
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/omnistudio-developer

**Official exam objective:**

> Construct single and multi-level Flexcards, organizing data using layouts, and repeaters.

## What the exam expects

- Decide when Repeat Records stays selected and when to deselect it (Datatable, Chart, list, containers with their own data).
- Add a render key so only the updated repeated card is regenerated.
- Build a multi-level card: embed a child Flexcard and feed it with a Data Node or attributes.
- Configure Is Recursive for hierarchical JSON of any depth.

Key terms: **Repeat Records** (one card container per returned record), **render key** (the field that identifies a repeated card in the DOM), **child Flexcard** (a card embedded in another through the Flexcard element), **Data Node** (the parent's data passed to the child in place of its own source), **Is Recursive** (the child embeds itself at each level of a data node).

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Repeat Records | One card container per record instead of one card for all | [Flexcard settings](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.os_set_up_a_flexcard_in_the_flexcard_designer_37646.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Render key | Regenerates only the updated card record in the DOM | [Flexcard settings](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.os_set_up_a_flexcard_in_the_flexcard_designer_37646.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Managed Package rule | Deselect only for a Chart or Datatable; other elements need Repeat Records even for one record | [Repeat Options (Managed Package)](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.os_repeat_options_in_the_flexcard_designer.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Data Node set | Child data source ignored; parent changes re-render the child | [Embed Flexcard](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.os_embed_flexcard_inside_another_flexcard_29030.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Parent attribute | Read in the child as {Parent.attributeName} | [Context variables](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.os_flexcards_context_variables_42922.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Is Recursive | Repeats until the data node no longer exists or is empty | [Embed Flexcard](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.os_embed_flexcard_inside_another_flexcard_29030.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Recursive conditions | One false record condition hides its nested records | [Embed Flexcard](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.os_embed_flexcard_inside_another_flexcard_29030.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |

## Check yourself

- Why does a render key make a repeated card list faster to update?
- When does a recursive child Flexcard stop nesting?
- Which Data Node passes only the second record to a child?
- Why might nested records vanish from a recursive card?

## Sources

- [Configure Flexcard Settings](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.os_set_up_a_flexcard_in_the_flexcard_designer_37646.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Embed Flexcard in a Flexcard](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.os_embed_flexcard_inside_another_flexcard_29030.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Repeat Options in the Flexcard Designer (Managed Package)](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.os_repeat_options_in_the_flexcard_designer.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Examples for Flexcard Settings](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.os_standard_examples_for_flexcard_settings.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Flexcards Display Elements](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.os_flexcards_display_elements_reference_28421.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Create a Flexcard](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.os_create_a_flexcard_25432.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Flexcards Context Variables](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.os_flexcards_context_variables_42922.htm&language=en_US&type=5)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 4 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Omnistudio Developer pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams