# Platform App Builder Study Guide

*Last updated October 25, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-app-builder*

The Certifyforce Platform App Builder study guide covers the official Salesforce Platform App Builder exam outline in 26 units across all 5 exam sections, one unit per exam-guide topic. The exam itself has 60 scored questions plus 5 unscored, a 105-minute limit and a 73% passing score, and its largest section is Business Logic and Process Automation at 32%. Every unit is verified against official Salesforce documentation, cites its sources, and links to the practice questions that test it. Last updated October 25, 2026.

## Contents

### Salesforce Fundamentals (18% of the exam)

- [Declarative limits, invocable Apex and custom components](https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-app-builder/salesforce-fundamentals/declarative-limits-invocable-apex-and-custom-components): When configuration is enough and when code is justified: the declarative-first rule, the HTTP Callout action with named and external credentials, invocable Apex actions in flows, and when a custom Lightning web component is the answer. ([markdown](https://www.certifyforce.com/md/study-guide/platform-app-builder/salesforce-fundamentals/declarative-limits-invocable-apex-and-custom-components))
- [AgentExchange listings, installs and package licenses](https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-app-builder/salesforce-fundamentals/agentexchange-listings-installs-and-package-licenses): How to extend an org from AgentExchange (formerly AppExchange): solutions versus consultants, the three trial options, pre-install checks, the install security options and their standard-profile gap, and the post-install steps for objects, permission sets and licenses. ([markdown](https://www.certifyforce.com/md/study-guide/platform-app-builder/salesforce-fundamentals/agentexchange-listings-installs-and-package-licenses))
- [Object permissions, field-level security and restriction rules](https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-app-builder/salesforce-fundamentals/object-permissions-field-level-security-and-restriction-rules): How object permissions, View All and Modify All, field-level security, permission sets, permission set groups with muting, restriction rules and user licenses combine to extend or restrict what a user can reach. ([markdown](https://www.certifyforce.com/md/study-guide/platform-app-builder/salesforce-fundamentals/object-permissions-field-level-security-and-restriction-rules))
- [Sharing solutions: org-wide defaults, rules and teams](https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-app-builder/salesforce-fundamentals/sharing-solutions-org-wide-defaults-rules-and-teams): Choose the record-sharing tool for a requirement: org-wide defaults as the locked-down baseline, the role hierarchy, owner- and criteria-based sharing rules, account teams and implicit sharing, manual sharing, and Apex managed sharing when declarative sharing runs out. ([markdown](https://www.certifyforce.com/md/study-guide/platform-app-builder/salesforce-fundamentals/sharing-solutions-org-wide-defaults-rules-and-teams))
- [Report types, report formats and dashboard widgets](https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-app-builder/salesforce-fundamentals/report-types-report-formats-and-dashboard-widgets): Build reports and dashboards that answer the requirement: custom report types and their relationship options, the four report formats, filter logic and cross filters, historical trend reporting versus reporting snapshots, summary and row-level formulas and bucket columns, and dashboard widgets, filters and the viewing user. ([markdown](https://www.certifyforce.com/md/study-guide/platform-app-builder/salesforce-fundamentals/report-types-report-formats-and-dashboard-widgets))

### Data Modeling and Management (20% of the exam)

- [Data model design: objects, junctions and Schema Builder](https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-app-builder/data-modeling-and-management/data-model-design-objects-junctions-and-schema-builder): How to turn a requirement into objects, fields, record types and relationships: when a related custom object beats more fields, how to build a junction object, which structures force a lookup instead of master-detail, what Schema Builder can and can't do, and how to read Salesforce Architects data model diagrams. ([markdown](https://www.certifyforce.com/md/study-guide/platform-app-builder/data-modeling-and-management/data-model-design-objects-junctions-and-schema-builder))
- [Relationship types: sharing, deletion and report types](https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-app-builder/data-modeling-and-management/relationship-types-sharing-deletion-and-report-types): What lookup, master-detail, many-to-many, external lookup and indirect lookup relationships do to record access, deletion and undelete, page layouts and standard report types, and what changes when you convert a lookup to master-detail or back. ([markdown](https://www.certifyforce.com/md/study-guide/platform-app-builder/data-modeling-and-management/relationship-types-sharing-deletion-and-report-types))
- [Field types and safe field type conversion](https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-app-builder/data-modeling-and-management/field-types-and-safe-field-type-conversion): How to pick the right custom field type for text, identifiers and locations, which type conversions lose data or are blocked, how to work around a formula reference, the 85 million conversion limit for deployments, and the picklist and global value set limits that decide when a lookup is the better design. ([markdown](https://www.certifyforce.com/md/study-guide/platform-app-builder/data-modeling-and-management/field-types-and-safe-field-type-conversion))
- [Import and export tools and Salesforce Connect](https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-app-builder/data-modeling-and-management/import-and-export-tools-and-salesforce-connect): When to use the Data Import Wizard, Data Loader or the Data Export service, how to prepare imports and updates, what each export includes and leaves out, and how Salesforce Connect adapters and external objects show outside data in real time with their own limits. ([markdown](https://www.certifyforce.com/md/study-guide/platform-app-builder/data-modeling-and-management/import-and-export-tools-and-salesforce-connect))

### Business Logic and Process Automation (32% of the exam)

- [Formula fields: functions, cross-object references and limits](https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-app-builder/business-logic-and-process-automation/formula-fields-functions-cross-object-references-and-limits): How to build formula fields that meet a requirement: return types, picklist and date functions, blank handling, cross-object references to parent records, the 15-relationship and size limits, and what a formula field can never do. ([markdown](https://www.certifyforce.com/md/study-guide/platform-app-builder/business-logic-and-process-automation/formula-fields-functions-cross-object-references-and-limits))
- [Roll-up summary fields: types, filters and recalculation](https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-app-builder/business-logic-and-process-automation/roll-up-summary-fields-types-filters-and-recalculation): When a roll-up summary field can total child records onto a parent: COUNT, SUM, MIN and MAX and the field types each accepts, why a custom lookup needs master-detail or a flow, filter limits, #Error! and currency behaviour, mass recalculation, and when a flow must do the job instead. ([markdown](https://www.certifyforce.com/md/study-guide/platform-app-builder/business-logic-and-process-automation/roll-up-summary-fields-types-filters-and-recalculation))
- [Validation rule formulas and when rules run](https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-app-builder/business-logic-and-process-automation/validation-rule-formulas-and-when-rules-run): How to write validation rule error conditions that return TRUE for bad data, the ISNEW, ISCHANGED, PRIORVALUE, ISBLANK and ISPICKVAL patterns, parent fields and roll-up counts in rules, and where rules run (API, Web-to-Case) and don't (Quick Create, Mass Transfer). ([markdown](https://www.certifyforce.com/md/study-guide/platform-app-builder/business-logic-and-process-automation/validation-rule-formulas-and-when-rules-run))
- [Flow Builder elements, resources and the triggering record](https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-app-builder/business-logic-and-process-automation/flow-builder-elements-resources-and-the-triggering-record): The building blocks of Flow Builder (elements, connectors, variables, constants, formulas, text templates, global constants), how $Record and $Record__Prior behave, when a before-save or after-save flow needs an Update Records element, bulk-safe loop patterns, and referencing screen component values. ([markdown](https://www.certifyforce.com/md/study-guide/platform-app-builder/business-logic-and-process-automation/flow-builder-elements-resources-and-the-triggering-record))
- [Flow Approval Processes: stages, steps and work items](https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-app-builder/business-logic-and-process-automation/flow-approval-processes-stages-steps-and-work-items): How a flow approval process is built from stages, approval steps, background steps and Decision paths, how its work items reach users, groups, queues and Experience Cloud visitors, and when it beats a classic approval process. ([markdown](https://www.certifyforce.com/md/study-guide/platform-app-builder/business-logic-and-process-automation/flow-approval-processes-stages-steps-and-work-items))
- [Choosing flow types: triggers, scheduled paths and subflows](https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-app-builder/business-logic-and-process-automation/choosing-flow-types-triggers-scheduled-paths-and-subflows): Pick the flow type from what starts the automation (a user, a record change, a schedule, a platform event or a Data 360 change), share logic with subflows, and tell scheduled paths apart from schedule-triggered flows. ([markdown](https://www.certifyforce.com/md/study-guide/platform-app-builder/business-logic-and-process-automation/choosing-flow-types-triggers-scheduled-paths-and-subflows))
- [Flow fault paths, debugging and run monitoring](https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-app-builder/business-logic-and-process-automation/flow-fault-paths-debugging-and-run-monitoring): What happens when a flow fails with and without a fault path, who gets the error email, how to debug safely and as another user, and which tools show trigger order, dependencies, version changes and run health. ([markdown](https://www.certifyforce.com/md/study-guide/platform-app-builder/business-logic-and-process-automation/flow-fault-paths-debugging-and-run-monitoring))
- [Agentforce subagents, agent actions and flow automation](https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-app-builder/business-logic-and-process-automation/agentforce-subagents-agent-actions-and-flow-automation): How Agentforce agents automate business processes: subagents (formerly topics), the Agent Router, agent actions that call autolaunched flows, prompt templates or invocable Apex, action settings, standard assets, billing, template-triggered prompt flows, Omni-Channel routing, and drafting flows with Agentforce in Flow Builder. ([markdown](https://www.certifyforce.com/md/study-guide/platform-app-builder/business-logic-and-process-automation/agentforce-subagents-agent-actions-and-flow-automation))

### User Interface (17% of the exam)

- [Lightning apps, compact layouts, Dynamic Forms and Path](https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-app-builder/user-interface/lightning-apps-compact-layouts-dynamic-forms-and-path): Which declarative tool shapes each part of the Lightning Experience UI: Lightning apps and the utility bar, compact layouts in the highlights panel, Dynamic Forms fields and sections, Path, and how Classic page layout elements carry over. ([markdown](https://www.certifyforce.com/md/study-guide/platform-app-builder/user-interface/lightning-apps-compact-layouts-dynamic-forms-and-path))
- [Custom buttons, links and quick actions](https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-app-builder/user-interface/custom-buttons-links-and-quick-actions): When to use a custom button, a custom link or a quick action: content sources that work in Lightning Experience and the mobile app, Visualforce and list button rules, object-specific versus global actions, where actions appear on a record page, and Dynamic Actions. ([markdown](https://www.certifyforce.com/md/study-guide/platform-app-builder/user-interface/custom-buttons-links-and-quick-actions))
- [Lightning App Builder pages and standard components](https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-app-builder/user-interface/lightning-app-builder-pages-and-standard-components): How to build record, app and Home pages in the Lightning App Builder without code: page types and activation, actions on app pages, installed AgentExchange components, component visibility filters, the Dynamic Highlights Panel, dynamic related lists and the Related Record component. ([markdown](https://www.certifyforce.com/md/study-guide/platform-app-builder/user-interface/lightning-app-builder-pages-and-standard-components))
- [Custom Lightning components: LWC configuration and targets](https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-app-builder/user-interface/custom-lightning-components-lwc-configuration-and-targets): What a developer configures so a custom component reaches admins: the js-meta.xml file (isExposed, targets, targetConfig properties, objects and form factors), Aura interfaces and design resources, record context for child components, LWC quick actions, and Lightning web components inside Visualforce. ([markdown](https://www.certifyforce.com/md/study-guide/platform-app-builder/user-interface/custom-lightning-components-lwc-configuration-and-targets))
- [Salesforce mobile app actions and publisher layouts](https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-app-builder/user-interface/salesforce-mobile-app-actions-and-publisher-layouts): How to shape the Salesforce mobile app: global versus object-specific actions, global publisher layouts per profile, lean action layouts, how the action bar is ordered and why actions go missing, Chatter feeds, feed tracking and groups, offline records, mobile navigation from Lightning apps, and mobile-friendly page layouts. ([markdown](https://www.certifyforce.com/md/study-guide/platform-app-builder/user-interface/salesforce-mobile-app-actions-and-publisher-layouts))

### App Deployment (13% of the exam)

- [Sandbox types, templates and refresh intervals](https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-app-builder/app-deployment/sandbox-types-templates-and-refresh-intervals): Which sandbox type fits each lifecycle stage (Developer, Developer Pro, Partial Copy, Full), how storage, data copied, templates and refresh intervals differ, what a refresh changes, and where scratch orgs and Lifecycle Center (formerly DevOps Center) fit. ([markdown](https://www.certifyforce.com/md/study-guide/platform-app-builder/app-deployment/sandbox-types-templates-and-refresh-intervals))
- [Change sets: connections, components and deployment](https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-app-builder/app-deployment/change-sets-connections-components-and-deployment): When a change set can move metadata (affiliated orgs, authorized connections), how outbound and inbound change sets are built, uploaded, validated and deployed, and why components go missing, hidden or rolled back. ([markdown](https://www.certifyforce.com/md/study-guide/platform-app-builder/app-deployment/change-sets-connections-components-and-deployment))
- [Unmanaged, managed and unlocked packages](https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-app-builder/app-deployment/unmanaged-managed-and-unlocked-packages): When to use an unmanaged, managed (1GP or 2GP), unlocked or org-dependent unlocked package, and what happens to profiles, permission sets, customizations and data when a package is installed, upgraded or uninstalled. ([markdown](https://www.certifyforce.com/md/study-guide/platform-app-builder/app-deployment/unmanaged-managed-and-unlocked-packages))
- [Deployment plans: order, timing and Lifecycle Center](https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-app-builder/app-deployment/deployment-plans-order-timing-and-lifecycle-center): How to plan a production release: which deployment tool fits, what may change directly in production, the recommended component order, timing, manual pre- and post-deployment steps, and promoting metadata and configuration data through a Lifecycle Center (formerly DevOps Center) pipeline. ([markdown](https://www.certifyforce.com/md/study-guide/platform-app-builder/app-deployment/deployment-plans-order-timing-and-lifecycle-center))

## Common questions about the Platform App Builder study guide

### Is the Platform App Builder study guide free?

Partly. Every unit's summary and its "What the exam expects", "Key facts" and "Check yourself" sections are free to read without an account. The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections, reading progress and unlimited timed mock exams come with the Platform App Builder pack (USD $19).

### How current is the Platform App Builder study guide?

It is written to the current official Salesforce Platform App Builder exam outline, and each unit is checked against Salesforce documentation before it is published. The most recent update was October 25, 2026, and every unit shows its own last-updated date.

### How does the study guide map to the official Platform App Builder exam guide?

There is one unit per topic in the official exam guide, grouped under its 5 weighted sections: Salesforce Fundamentals (18%), Data Modeling and Management (20%), Business Logic and Process Automation (32%), User Interface (17%), App Deployment (13%). Each unit quotes the exam objective it covers word for word.

### How do the practice questions link to the study guide?

Each unit lists the reviewed practice questions that test it (310 questions are linked across the guide), so you can read a topic and practice it in one click. After a practice exam, every missed question links back to the unit that teaches it.