# UI visibility: layouts, Dynamic Forms and tab settings

*Platform Sharing and Visibility Architect Study Guide · Permissions to Standard Objects, Custom Objects, and Fields · Last updated October 26, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-sharing-and-visibility-architect/permissions-to-standard-objects-custom-objects-and-fields/ui-visibility-layouts-dynamic-forms-and-tab-settings*

Which user interface control hides a field, section, action, page or tab for whom (page layouts, record types, compact and search layouts, list views, Dynamic Forms, Dynamic Actions, Lightning page activation and tab settings), and why none of them is security.

- Certification: Salesforce Platform Sharing and Visibility Architect
- Exam section: Permissions to Standard Objects, Custom Objects, and Fields
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-sharing-and-visibility-architect

**Official exam objective:**

> Given a scenario, recommend the appropriate mechanism to hide data at the user interface level.

## What the exam expects

- Separate a "declutter the screen" requirement from a "block the data" requirement, and reject UI controls as security.
- Pick the right UI control: page layout or record type, compact layout, search layout, list view sharing, Dynamic Forms visibility rule, Dynamic Actions filter, Lightning page activation or tab setting.
- Predict edge behaviour: hidden required fields, filters on fields the user can't read, per-page Dynamic Actions, Classic apps and Home pages, conflicting tab settings.

Key terms: **page layout** (fields, buttons and related lists on detail and edit pages per record type and profile); **Dynamic Forms** (fields and sections as Lightning page components with visibility rules); **Dynamic Actions** (actions assigned and filtered in Lightning App Builder); **tab settings** (Default On, Default Off, Tab Hidden).

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Field-level security reach | Records, related lists, list views, reports, search results | [What Determines Field Access?](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.customize_fieldaccess.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Case Close layouts | Same record type can use a different layout for closed cases | [Assign Record Types and Page Layouts in Profiles](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.users_profiles_record_types.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Compact layout assignment | One per record type; first fields show in header and lookup hover | [Compact Layouts](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.compact_layout_overview.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Search layout and keyword search | Doesn't control which fields are searched | [Search Layouts Limitations](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=ai.customize_searchlayout_notes.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Manage Public List Views | Sees all public list views regardless of sharing | [Create a Custom List View in Lightning Experience](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.customviews_lex.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Hidden required field | Field Required in Lightning App Builder but hidden at run time can be saved empty | [Visibility Rules on Lightning Pages](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.lightning_page_components_visibility.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Visibility filter span | Record field values can't span more than five fields | [Visibility Rules on Lightning Pages](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.lightning_page_components_visibility.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Dynamic Actions scope | Applies only to the record page being edited | [Create Dynamic Actions in Lightning App Builder](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.lightning_app_builder_create_dynamic_action.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Conflicting tab settings | Most permissive setting applies | [Tab Settings](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.permissions_tab_settings_ref.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |

## Check yourself

- Why does a Dynamic Actions filter on a field the user can't read show the action anyway?
- When can a Home page component filter on a record field?
- Which control offers some users a picklist without one value?
- Why does Tab Hidden on a profile fail for users who also hold a permission set with Available on that tab?

## Sources

- [What Determines Field Access?](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.customize_fieldaccess.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Assign Record Types and Page Layouts in Profiles](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.users_profiles_record_types.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Tailor Business Processes to Different Record Types Users](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.customize_recordtype.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Compact Layouts](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.compact_layout_overview.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Search Layouts Limitations](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=ai.customize_searchlayout_notes.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Create a Custom List View in Lightning Experience](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.customviews_lex.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Break Up Your Record Details with Dynamic Forms](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.dynamic_forms_overview.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Visibility Rules on Lightning Pages](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.lightning_page_components_visibility.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Create Dynamic Actions in Lightning App Builder](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.lightning_app_builder_create_dynamic_action.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Activate Lightning Record or Home Pages](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.lightning_app_builder_customize_lex_pages_activate.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Tab Settings](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.permissions_tab_settings_ref.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Object Permissions](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.users_profiles_object_perms.htm&language=en_US&type=5)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 16 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Platform Sharing and Visibility Architect pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams