Salesforce Platform Developer Practice Exam

How long are custom fields stored after deletion?

1. 60 Days

2. 45 Days

3. 30 Days

4. 15 Days

The correct answer is: 15 Days

When a custom field is deleted in Salesforce, it is not permanently removed immediately. Instead, the custom field is stored in a "soft delete" state in the Recycle Bin for a specified duration, allowing users the opportunity to restore it if needed. The correct duration for how long deleted custom fields are retained is 15 days. During this period, users can recover deleted custom fields and their associated data, which provides a safeguard against accidental deletions. After the 15 days have passed, the custom fields are permanently deleted, and recovery becomes impossible. Understanding this concept is crucial for developers and administrators as it informs them about data retention policies and the potential impact of deleting custom fields in their Salesforce environment. Knowing the time frames for data recovery helps in forming appropriate data management practices and policies within an organization.