Custom Objects
By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to:
- Explain what a custom object is and when one is needed
- Recognize the __c suffix convention for custom objects and fields
- Reference a custom object in Apex the same way as a standard one
Prerequisites: "Standard Objects"
When standard objects aren't enough
Account and Contact cover common business concepts, but a school's Salesforce org needs to track something like "Course Enrollment," and a car dealership needs "Vehicle Trade-In" — neither exists as a standard object. Custom objects fill this gap: any business-specific data structure an org actually needs.
The __c naming convention
Course_Enrollment__c enrollment = new Course_Enrollment__c();
enrollment.Student_Name__c = 'Amara Nkosi';
enrollment.Course_Name__c = 'Apex Fundamentals';Every custom object's API name ends in __c (for "custom") — this is how Apex and Salesforce distinguish Course_Enrollment__c (something an org's team built) from Account (something Salesforce built in). Custom fields follow the same convention, seen here on Student_Name__c and Course_Name__c.
Used identically to a standard object
Course_Enrollment__c enrollment = new Course_Enrollment__c();
enrollment.Student_Name__c = 'Ben Dlamini';
System.debug(enrollment.Student_Name__c);Aside from the __c suffix, a custom object works in Apex exactly like a standard one — new, dot notation for fields, all identical. The distinction matters for naming, not for how you write code against it.
Exercise
As a comment, name a business scenario (not Account, Contact, Opportunity, or Case) that would need a custom object, and give it a plausible __c API name.
Show hint
Think of something specific to one kind of business.
Custom Objects Quiz
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Summary
A custom object is a data structure an org's admins or developers define themselves, for business data standard objects don't already cover.