# Unlocked, managed and unmanaged package trade-offs

*Platform Development Lifecycle and Deployment Architect Study Guide · Releasing · Last updated October 26, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-development-lifecycle-and-deployment-architect/releasing/unlocked-managed-and-unmanaged-package-trade-offs*

When to release metadata as an unlocked, org-dependent unlocked, second- or first-generation managed, or unmanaged package, and how Dev Hub ownership, beta versus released versions, push upgrades, refactoring and uninstall shape a package-based release.

- Certification: Salesforce Platform Development Lifecycle and Deployment Architect
- Exam section: Releasing
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-development-lifecycle-and-deployment-architect

**Official exam objective:**

> Given a scenario, analyze and explain the use cases and considerations when using managed and unmanaged as well as unlocked packages.

## What the exam expects

- Recommend unlocked, org-dependent unlocked, managed (2GP or 1GP) or unmanaged packaging from who installs the package and who may change it afterwards.
- Explain why unlocked packages need governance over production edits.
- Place the Dev Hub correctly, control who promotes a version to released, and keep beta versions out of pipeline sandboxes.
- Predict what push upgrades, refactoring between packages and uninstall do to components and data.

Key terms: **unlocked package** (a versioned container of metadata whose source of truth is version control and whose components stay editable), **org-dependent unlocked package** (an unlocked package validated against unpackaged metadata at install time), **manageability rules** (managed-package rules on who can edit or remove each component), **beta version** (a new package version before promotion), **Dev Hub** (the org that owns unlocked and 2GP packages).

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Unlocked metadata in production | Editable; later versions can overwrite edits | [What's an Unlocked Package?](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/sfdx-dev/guide/sfdx-dev-unlocked-pkg-whats-a-package.html) |
| Org-dependent validation | At installation; can't depend on other packages | [Create Org-Dependent Unlocked Packages](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/sfdx-dev/guide/sfdx-dev-unlocked-pkg-org-dependent.html) |
| Promotion coverage | 75% Apex; none calculated for org-dependent | [Code Coverage for Unlocked Packages](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/sfdx-dev/guide/sfdx-dev-unlocked-pkg-code-coverage.html) |
| Promote | Needs the Dev Hub permission; once per version; can't undo | [Release an Unlocked Package](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/sfdx-dev/guide/sfdx-dev-unlocked-pkg-create-pkg-ver-promote.html) |
| Non-production Dev Hub | Expired hub: installed package can't be updated | [Know Your Orgs](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/sfdx-dev/guide/sfdx-dev-unlocked-pkg-before-know-orgs.html) |
| Push upgrade channels | Unlocked and 2GP: CLI and API; 1GP: API and UI | [Push a Package Upgrade for Unlocked Packages](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/sfdx-dev/guide/sfdx-dev-unlocked-pkg-push-upgrade.html) |
| Profiles in a version | Only settings related to packaged metadata survive | [Unlocked Packages](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/sfdx-dev/guide/sfdx-dev-unlocked-pkg-intro.html) |
| Uninstall | Deletes package and deprecated components | [Uninstall an Unlocked Package](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/sfdx-dev/guide/sfdx-dev-unlocked-pkg-installed-pkgs-uninstall.html) |

## Check yourself

- Why are immutable unlocked package versions useful in a CI/CD pipeline?
- When should a team develop an org-dependent unlocked package in a sandbox instead of scratch orgs?
- Which two 2GP capabilities support parallel branch development that 1GP lacks?
- When can a version that failed the coverage requirement still be installed?

## Sources

- [Unlocked Packages](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/sfdx-dev/guide/sfdx-dev-unlocked-pkg-intro.html)
- [What's an Unlocked Package?](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/sfdx-dev/guide/sfdx-dev-unlocked-pkg-whats-a-package.html)
- [Create Org-Dependent Unlocked Packages](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/sfdx-dev/guide/sfdx-dev-unlocked-pkg-org-dependent.html)
- [Comparison of First- and Second-Generation Managed Packages](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/pkg2-dev/guide/sfdx-dev-dev2gp-comparison.html)
- [Second-Generation Managed Packages](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/pkg2-dev/guide/sfdx-dev-dev2gp.html)
- [Developing and Distributing Unmanaged Packages](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/pkg1-dev/guide/packaging-developing-unmanaged.html)
- [Package-Based Development Model](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/sfdx-dev/guide/sfdx-dev-unlocked-pkg-pkg-dev.html)
- [Know Your Orgs](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/sfdx-dev/guide/sfdx-dev-unlocked-pkg-before-know-orgs.html)
- [Release an Unlocked Package](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/sfdx-dev/guide/sfdx-dev-unlocked-pkg-create-pkg-ver-promote.html)
- [Code Coverage for Unlocked Packages](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/sfdx-dev/guide/sfdx-dev-unlocked-pkg-code-coverage.html)
- [Push a Package Upgrade for Unlocked Packages](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/sfdx-dev/guide/sfdx-dev-unlocked-pkg-push-upgrade.html)
- [Migrate Deprecated Metadata from Unlocked Packages](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/sfdx-dev/guide/sfdx-dev-unlocked-pkg-migrate-metadata.html)
- [Uninstall an Unlocked Package](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/sfdx-dev/guide/sfdx-dev-unlocked-pkg-installed-pkgs-uninstall.html)
- [package Commands (Salesforce CLI Command Reference)](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.sfdx_cli_reference.meta/sfdx_cli_reference/cli_reference_package_commands_unified.htm)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 14 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Platform Development Lifecycle and Deployment Architect pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams