Top Salesforce QA Testing Interview Questions & Answers

Great! Let's dive into some key Salesforce QA interview questions for different experience levels. Remember, these are just starting points - be ready to discuss your experiences and thought processes too!

Entry-level Questions

1. Q: What's the difference between Salesforce.com and Force.com?
   A: Salesforce.com is a SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) product, while Force.com is a PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service). Salesforce.com provides ready-to-use CRM applications, while Force.com lets you build custom apps on the Salesforce platform.
   
   

2. Q: Can you explain what a sandbox is in Salesforce?
   A: A sandbox is a copy of your Salesforce production environment used for testing and development. It's a safe place to try out new configurations or customizations without affecting your live data.
   
   There are several types of sandboxes, each designed for different needs:

   • Developer Sandbox: Ideal for individual development and testing, this type offers a basic environment with a limited amount of data.

   • Developer Pro Sandbox: Similar to the Developer Sandbox but with more storage, making it suitable for larger development and quality assurance tasks.

   • Partial Data Sandbox: Includes a sample of your production data, perfect for testing specific features that rely on real data, without the overhead of a full copy.

   • Full Sandbox: An exact replica of your entire production environment, including all data and configurations—best for comprehensive testing, training, and staging.

   The type and size of the sandbox you use will depend on your Salesforce edition and specific requirements, but all sandboxes provide a safe, isolated space to experiment without risking the integrity of your live system.
   
   

3. Q: What are the main types of objects in Salesforce?
   A: The main types are standard objects (pre-built by Salesforce, like Accounts and Contacts) and custom objects (created by users to store information unique to their organization).
   
   Custom objects are especially powerful—they act as your own tailor-made database tables within Salesforce. With custom objects, you can:

   • Create custom fields to capture exactly the data your team needs

   • Connect the custom object to other records, building relationships that mirror your business processes

   • Display custom object data in related lists for easy navigation

   • Track events and tasks associated with your custom objects

   • Customize page layouts to streamline data entry and viewing

   • Create a custom tab so users can access your object directly from the main menu

   • Build dashboards and reports to analyze and visualize your custom object data

   • Share your custom objects, tabs, apps, and components with your team for seamless collaboration

   In other words, custom objects let you mold Salesforce to fit your organization like a glove, ensuring every unique process and bit of data has its place.
   
   

4. Q: What's the purpose of the Salesforce Audit Trail?
   A: The Audit Trail tracks changes made by administrators in your org. It can store up to 6 months of data, helping you monitor and secure your Salesforce environment.
   
   

5. Q: How would you test a newly created custom field?
   A: I'd start by creating a test record and inputting valid data to ensure it saves correctly. Then I'd try invalid data to check error handling. I'd also verify field-level security and page layouts to ensure proper display and access.
   
   

6. Q: What are the three types of object relationships in Salesforce?
   A: Salesforce offers three main types of object relationships to help you connect data in ways that make sense for your business:

   • Lookup Relationship: This is the friendly handshake of Salesforce relationships. It links one object to another, allowing records to be associated while still maintaining their independence. For example, a Contact can look up to an Account, but can also stand on its own two feet.

   • Master-Detail Relationship: Think of this as the parent-child dynamic. In this setup, the child (detail) record is tightly coupled with the parent (master) record—delete the parent, and the child is going along for the ride. This relationship is great for things like Opportunities and Opportunity Line Items, where the child can't exist without the parent.

   • Many-to-Many Relationship: Sometimes you need Salesforce objects to mingle a bit more freely. Enter the junction object, which allows for many-to-many relationships. A good example is linking a Campaign to multiple Leads and vice versa. It’s all about flexible connections!
     
     

7. Q: What are some causes of data loss in Salesforce?
   A: Data loss in Salesforce can sneak up on even the most careful admin. Some common culprits include:

   • Changing data types (for example, flipping a numeric field to text or converting a text area to an email, phone, or URL field)

   • Migrating or importing data where the formats don’t match up—think date/time mismatches or incompatible field types

   • Tweaking multi-select picklists (outside of just deleting the picklist), which can sometimes wipe out selected values

   • Overwriting fields during updates or bulk data operations

   • Letting automation (like workflows or process builders) accidentally clear or replace existing information

   The bottom line: Always double-check before making field or data type changes, and back up your data. Prevention is way easier than an emergency rescue mission!
   
   

8. Q: What is an sObject type in Salesforce?
   A: In Salesforce, "sObject" stands for "Salesforce Object." Think of it as a fancy way of saying “any record you can store in Salesforce”—whether it’s a standard object like Account or Contact, or a custom object your team whipped up for that one weird workflow. In Apex code, an sObject is basically a generic data type that can represent any record, so you can write flexible, reusable scripts without hardcoding specific objects. It’s like the Swiss Army knife of the Salesforce database—works with everything, plays nice everywhere.
   
   

9. Q: How can a record be shared in Salesforce?
   A: Sharing records in Salesforce isn’t just a one-size-fits-all affair—it’s like giving out keys to your fancy digital filing cabinet, with a few different locks and combinations. Here are the main ways you can hand out access:

   • Role Hierarchy: Think of this like a corporate ladder. Higher-ups can automatically peek into records owned by their team members—if you’re the manager, you get to see what your reports are working on.

   • Organization-Wide Defaults (OWD): This is your baseline setting—how private or public records are, right out of the box. You can set data to be private, publicly read-only, or even publicly read/write for the whole company.

   • Manual Sharing: Sometimes you need to go rogue—not really, but you do need to share an individual record outside the usual rules. Owners or folks higher up the ladder can manually grant access to specific users or groups as needed.

   • Sharing Rules: Automation fans, rejoice! You can set rules so that records meeting certain criteria get automatically shared with particular users or teams. Perfect for when “set it and forget it” is your vibe.

   • Teams and Queues: If you’ve got Account Teams or Case Teams in play, you can easily rope in other users to access and collaborate on specific records.

   • Apex Sharing: For those tricky scenarios that outsmart clicks, you can use code to programmatically share records, giving you near-infinite flexibility.

   Whether you’re rolling out the red carpet for execs or letting the whole sales team in on a big deal, Salesforce’s sharing tools have you covered.
   
   

10. Q: How are Standard and Custom Controllers different in Salesforce?
    A: In Salesforce, standard controllers are built-in controllers provided by Salesforce, letting you quickly power up Visualforce pages with the default logic tied to standard or custom objects—no code required. They respect all the usual user permissions and security settings, making them handy for most everyday CRM needs.

    On the flip side, custom controllers are Apex classes you write from scratch. With these, you get full control over the page’s behavior, allowing for complex or highly customized functionality that isn’t possible with standard controllers. Custom controllers run in system mode by default, so they aren't restricted by the user’s security or sharing rules (unless you specifically enforce them in code). They’re perfect when you need Salesforce to bend the rules just a bit—or a lot—to fit unique business requirements.
    
    

11. Q: How can a record be shared in Salesforce?
    A: Sharing records in Salesforce isn’t just a one-size-fits-all affair—it’s like giving out keys to your fancy digital filing cabinet, with a few different locks and combinations. Here are the main ways you can hand out access:

    • Role Hierarchy: Think of this like a corporate ladder. Higher-ups can automatically peek into records owned by their team members—if you’re the manager, you get to see what your reports are working on.

    • Organization-Wide Defaults (OWD): This is your baseline setting—how private or public records are, right out of the box. You can set data to be private, publicly read-only, or even publicly read/write for the whole company.

    • Manual Sharing: Sometimes you need to go rogue—not really, but you do need to share an individual record outside the usual rules. Owners or folks higher up the ladder can manually grant access to specific users or groups as needed.

    • Sharing Rules: Automation fans, rejoice! You can set rules so that records meeting certain criteria get automatically shared with particular users or teams. Perfect for when “set it and forget it” is your vibe.

    • Teams and Queues: If you’ve got Account Teams or Case Teams in play, you can easily rope in other users to access and collaborate on specific records.

    • Apex Sharing: For those tricky scenarios that outsmart clicks, you can use code to programmatically share records, giving you near-infinite flexibility.

    Whether you’re rolling out the red carpet for execs or letting the whole sales team in on a big deal, Salesforce’s sharing tools have you covered.
    
    

12. Q: What’s the Difference Between a Role and a Profile in Salesforce?
    A: Ah, the classic "roles vs. Profiles" question—it trips up nearly every newcomer at least once, so don’t sweat it! Here’s a quick breakdown:

    • Profile: Think of a profile as your master key to Salesforce. It sets the baseline for what you can do—which apps you see, what objects and fields you can access, and whether you can create, edit, or delete records. Every user must have a profile, and it’s the first line of defense for securing data and features at a granular level.

    • Role: Roles, on the other hand, determine what data you see by defining your spot in the hierarchy. The higher your role, the more information rolls up to you—you get visibility into everything your team does, plus your own data. Roles don’t control how you interact with data (that’s the profile’s job), but they do influence which records show up in your reports and dashboards.

    In short: Profiles control "what you can do," and roles control "what you can see." Both work together to keep your Salesforce org both secure and tailored to each user's responsibilities.
    
    

13. Q: What are bucket fields and how are they used in Salesforce?
    A: Bucket fields in Salesforce reports are like your secret weapon for quick data grouping—no formulas, custom fields, or admin headaches required. With bucket fields, you can take values from a single column (like Opportunity Amount or Lead Source) and organize them into categories, or "buckets," directly within your report. For example, you could group opportunity amounts into buckets like "Small," "Medium," and "Large" to spot sales trends at a glance.

    Keep in mind: bucket fields only exist within the report itself—they don't show up in your object manager or as fields on records. They're a handy way for report users to sift, slice, and analyze data without needing any backend setup, making ad hoc analysis a breeze for admins and users alike.
    
    

14. Q: What is a "connected app" in Salesforce?
    A: Think of a connected app as a secure handshake between Salesforce and external software—like Google, Microsoft, or your favorite project management tool. Connected apps use protocols such as OAuth, SAML, and OpenID Connect to manage how users authenticate and grant permissions, making integrations both smooth and secure. Admins can control who gets access and ensure everything follows your organization's security guidelines, so no one’s sneaking past the guardrails.
    
    

15. Q: What is a wrapper class in Salesforce?
    A: A wrapper class in Salesforce is basically a custom Java-like class you create to hold a collection of different data types or objects together. Think of it as a handy way to group multiple pieces of related information—such as standard or custom objects—into a single unit, often for displaying complex data tables in Visualforce pages. Wrapper classes make it easier to manage and display combinations of data that wouldn’t naturally fit together in Salesforce’s standard object model. In interviews, it’s a great way to show you can organize and present data cleanly, especially when building more advanced UI or integration scenarios.
    
    

16. Q: Which fields are automatically indexed in Salesforce?
    A: Salesforce gives you a head start by automatically indexing certain fields to keep searches speedy and efficient. These include:

    • Any custom field marked as an external ID or set to be unique.

    • Standard fields such as ID, Name, and Owner fields—think of these as the “VIPs” of Salesforce data.

    • Date fields used for auditing, like SystemModStamp.

    • Relationship fields, including both Lookup and Master-Detail.

    With these indices in place by default, your queries deliver results faster—no extra configuration required!
    
    

17. Q: What kinds of email templates can you whip up in Salesforce?
    A: Salesforce doesn't just send emails—it lets you craft them exactly how you like. When it comes to templates, you have a few flavors to choose from:

    • Text Templates: The simplest option. Anyone in your org can create a plain text template, making them perfect for basic or ultra-quick communications.

    • HTML with Letterhead: Spruce things up with some branding. These templates let you use a letterhead (think: company colors, logos, the works) for polished, on-brand messages. They're usually in the domain of admins or users with special permissions.

    • Custom HTML Templates: Want full control? Go with custom HTML. Here, you design your template from scratch—no letterhead required. Great for when you need pixel-perfect emails and aren’t afraid to roll up your sleeves in the code.

    • Visualforce Templates: Calling all developers! Visualforce templates unlock the advanced stuff, letting you pull in dynamic data—even from multiple records—to create personalized, interactive emails. Perfect if your messaging needs to go beyond the basics.

    So whether you need a no-frills update, a beautifully branded missive, or a data-driven masterpiece, Salesforce has an email template type to match.
    
    

18. Q: What are the various data types that can be associated with a standard field record name in Salesforce?
    A: In Salesforce, a standard record name field can take on either of two data types: Text or Auto-Number.

    • Text: This is the more common option, letting you enter any combination of letters, numbers, or symbols up to 80 characters. It's perfect when you need flexible naming, like for Opportunities or Accounts, where each record might have a unique name defined by a person.

    • Auto-Number: Think of this as Salesforce's automatic numbering machine. When you choose Auto-Number, Salesforce generates a unique sequence (based on your chosen format, like "INV-0001, INV-0002") for every new record created. This is especially handy for things like Cases or Orders, where you want an easy-to-track, automatically managed ID for each record.

    So, in short: record names can be either text (user-defined) or auto-number (system-generated), depending on your needs for each specific object.
    
    

19. Q: What is the difference between WhoID and WhatID in Salesforce?
    A: WhoID and WhatID are fields found on certain Salesforce activities like Tasks and Events, but they point to different things. WhoID is used to reference people—think Leads or Contacts—so if you want to relate an activity to a specific individual, you'd use WhoID. On the flip side, WhatID points to non-human records such as Accounts, Opportunities, or custom objects. In short, WhoID is for "who" the activity is linked to (a person), while WhatID is for "what" the activity is about (any other object). This distinction helps keep activity tracking clear and organized in Salesforce.
    
    

20. Q: What is an app in Salesforce?
    A: An app in Salesforce is like a handy toolkit bundled just for your daily workflow. Think of it as a custom workspace that brings together a logo, a specific set of tabs, and tools you need for a particular business process—whether that’s sales, service, or something entirely your own. You can easily switch between different apps from the menu at the top right, so you always have the right features at your fingertips without any detours.

Understanding these relationships is key to organizing your Salesforce data so everything plays nicely together—no awkward silences at the data family reunion!

Intermediate-level Questions

1. Q: What's the difference between SOQL and SOSL?
   A: SOQL (Salesforce Object Query Language) is used for searching a single object, while SOSL (Salesforce Object Search Language) can search multiple objects simultaneously. SOQL is more precise and allows DML operations, while SOSL is better for text-based searches.
   
   

2. Q: How would you establish a many-to-many relationship in Salesforce?
   A: To create a many-to-many relationship, you'd use a junction object. This is a custom object with two master-detail relationships, connecting the two objects that need the many-to-many relationship.
   
   

3. Q: What are governor limits in Salesforce and why are they important?
   A: Governor limits are execution limits imposed by Salesforce to ensure fair resource sharing in the multi-tenant environment. They prevent any single transaction from monopolizing shared resources. It's crucial for developers and QA to be aware of these to ensure code efficiency and prevent runtime errors.
   
   

4. Q: Can you explain the difference between a workflow and a trigger in Salesforce?
   A: Workflows are point-and-click tools for automating standard internal procedures, while triggers are Apex code that execute before or after specific data manipulation language (DML) events. Workflows are simpler but less flexible, while triggers offer more complex logic but require coding.
   
   A workflow in Salesforce acts as a business logic engine that lets you automate repetitive processes based on set criteria. If those criteria are met, Salesforce automatically executes the workflow actions; if not, the record is simply saved with no further action.

   There are two main types of workflow actions:

   • Immediate actions: These fire off as soon as the record meets the rule criteria—think sending an email alert or updating a field right when a record is created or edited.

   • Time-dependent actions: These are scheduled to happen after a certain time period—like sending a reminder email 10 days before a contract’s close date, provided the rule’s criteria are still met at that time.

   So, while workflows are great for straightforward, rule-based automation, triggers are your go-to for custom, sophisticated logic that can’t be achieved through clicks alone.
   
   

5. Q: What's the minimum test coverage required for deploying Apex code to production?
   A: Salesforce requires a minimum of 75% code coverage for each Apex class and trigger, with an overall organization-wide code coverage of 75%.
   
   

Advanced-level Questions

1. Q: How would you approach testing a complex Salesforce integration with an external system?
   A: I'd start by understanding the integration requirements and data flow. Then, I'd create a test plan covering various scenarios: happy path, error handling, data validation, and performance under load. I'd use a combination of manual and automated testing, possibly leveraging tools like Qodex for API testing. I'd also ensure proper error logging and monitoring are in place.
   
   

2. Q: Can you explain the concept of bulkification in Apex and why it's important for QA?
   A: Bulkification in Apex refers to designing code to handle multiple records at once, rather than one at a time. It's crucial for staying within governor limits and ensuring good performance. As a QA, I'd test with large data sets to verify that the code handles bulk operations efficiently without hitting limits.
   
   

3. Q: How would you test Salesforce Lightning components?
   A: Testing Lightning components involves both client-side and server-side testing. I'd use the Lightning Testing Service for JavaScript unit tests on the client-side. For server-side controllers, I'd write Apex test classes. I'd also perform manual testing to ensure proper rendering and behavior across different devices and browsers.
   
   

4. Q: What strategies would you use to optimize Salesforce reports and dashboards performance?
   A: To optimize performance, I'd focus on efficient SOQL queries, use selective filters, minimize the use of cross-object formulas, and leverage summary reports where possible. I'd also consider using bucketing for large data sets and test with significant amounts of data to ensure scalability.
   
   

5. Q: How would you approach testing a Salesforce CPQ (Configure, Price, Quote) implementation?
   A: Testing CPQ would involve verifying complex pricing rules, product configurations, and quote generation. I'd create test scenarios covering various product combinations, discounting rules, and approval workflows. I'd also test integration with other Salesforce modules like Opportunities and Orders. Performance testing would be crucial, especially for large product catalogs and complex pricing scenarios.
   
   

6. Q. Steps in the Salesforce Testing Lifecycle
   A: Curious about what QA analysts actually do when testing Salesforce? It’s not just a matter of clicking around and hoping for the best. There’s a tried-and-true process, almost like following the recipe for your favorite chocolate chip cookies (minus the oven mitts). Here’s how it typically rolls out:

   • Gathering Requirements: First things first—QA dives into understanding what the business needs. Whether it's adding custom fields, building new workflows, or integrating with your favorite third-party apps, they collect all the key requirements up front.

   • Planning the Testing Strategy: Next, it's all about crafting a game plan. This means mapping out what needs to be tested, deciding on the right approach, and setting goals to make sure nothing slips through the cracks.

   • Setting Up the Test Environment: Time to get their hands dirty (well, digitally). QA analysts spin up a Salesforce sandbox—a safe playground where they can experiment without disturbing the actual business data. Here, they load any necessary sample data and ensure things are ready to go.

   • Executing Tests: The real action begins! QA runs through various test cases, poking and prodding every nook and cranny to make sure features work as expected. If any bugs or strange behaviors pop up, they're documented faster than you can say "Apex trigger."

   • Wrapping Up the Cycle: After all the dust settles, it’s time for a final review. QA summarizes what’s been tested, what was found, and how any issues were resolved, giving stakeholders a clear snapshot of the system’s quality.

   With this lifecycle in place, QA analysts help keep Salesforce running smoother than a freshly Zambonied ice rink for everyone who counts on it.
   
   

7. Q: What are the different dashboard components available in Salesforce?
   A: Salesforce dashboards are made up of various components, each designed to visualize data in a specific way to help users quickly analyze key metrics. The main dashboard components include:

   • Charts: Bar, pie, line, and donut charts help you visualize report data trends and comparisons at a glance.

   • Gauges: These display a single value against defined thresholds, making it easy to track progress toward goals or targets.

   • Metrics: Use this component to highlight key numbers with their labels, perfect for emphasizing a single value like total revenue or open cases.

   • Tables: Organize and display rows of data from reports, so you can scan multiple records or details in a grid format.

   • Visualforce Pages: For fully custom displays, you can embed Visualforce pages directly into your dashboard, allowing for completely tailored components that go beyond standard options.

   • Custom Lightning Components: These can bring in interactive or third-party content, and are especially useful if you need something dynamic, like an embedded chart from an external system or a special visualization.

   Mix and match these components to build dashboards that answer your team’s business questions—or help you impress at your next meeting!
   
   

8. Q: What is a Salesforce dashboard and how many reports can be included in it?
   A: A Salesforce dashboard offers a dynamic, visual way to monitor key metrics and trends using data pulled directly from your reports. You can add up to 20 components (each based on a report) to a single dashboard, enabling you to see snapshots of information like sales pipelines, case resolutions, or lead generation all in one place. Dashboards can be customized with different chart types, tables, and gauges for easy data interpretation by teams and leadership alike.
   
   

9. Q: What Types of Reports Are Available in Salesforce?
   A:Salesforce offers several report formats to help you analyze and present data in different ways:

   • Tabular Reports: These are the simplest style—think of them as basic spreadsheets. They’re great when you just need a list of records without any subtotals or grouping.

   • Summary Reports: Allow you to group rows of data, such as summary totals by owner or stage. This is perfect for seeing subtotals and more detailed breakdowns.

   • Matrix Reports: Useful when you want to group data by both rows and columns, letting you create a pivot-table-like view to uncover patterns and trends.

   • Joined Reports: Let you pull together multiple report types or data sets into one, making it easy to compare related information across different objects.

   Choosing the right type depends on how you want to slice and dice your data, so get comfy experimenting with these formats in your own sandbox.
   
   

10. Q: Can you write getter and setter methods in Salesforce?
    A: Yes, you can! In Salesforce, especially when working with Visualforce and Apex controllers, getter and setter methods allow you to control how variables are accessed and modified on your pages. For instance, a getter retrieves the value of a variable to display it on a Visualforce page, while a setter allows you to update the variable’s value from page input. This mechanism enables dynamic data interaction between your Apex backend and the Visualforce user interface, which is essential for building responsive and interactive Salesforce apps.
    
    

11. Q: What is a Visibility Enum in Salesforce?
    A Visibility Enum in Salesforce is a specific data type used—primarily in caching scenarios—to control who can access a cached value. Essentially, it determines whether the cached data is available only within its originating namespace, or if it can be shared and accessed across multiple namespaces. For example, in Apex, setting the visibility helps ensure that sensitive or context-specific data is appropriately isolated or shared according to your application's needs. This level of access control is key for maintaining security and integrity when working with data or custom code in a multi-tenant environment like Salesforce.

Remember, in a real interview, be prepared to dive deeper into any of these topics and relate them to your personal experiences. Good luck!