---
schema_version: "1"
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title: What Is a Cross-Object Formula?
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/platform/264-0-0/customize_cross_object.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.customize_cross_object.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 5bae45a0ff9e17f2f339158fa336e62114d881614242ef0c569c211b7ac80e0b
description: A Cross-object formula is a formula that spans two related objects and references merge fields on those objects. A cross-object formula can reference merge fields from a master (“parent”) object if an object is on the detail side of a master-detail relationship. A cross-object formula also works with lookup relationships.
products:
  - Salesforce Platform
  - Security
release: "264"
---
# What Is a Cross-Object Formula?

A Cross-object formula is a formula that spans two related objects and references merge fields on those objects. A cross-object formula can reference merge fields from a master (“parent”) object if an object is on the detail side of a master-detail relationship. A cross-object formula also works with lookup relationships.

### Required Editions

![Important](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-platform-extend_click-264-0-0-production-enus/5f7d9219-b7b1-4552-8891-f1aba9b289fc/images/icon_important.png)

Important Where possible, we changed noninclusive terms to align with our company value of Equality. We maintained certain terms to avoid any effect on customer implementations.

<table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small edition"><colgroup><col></colgroup><tbody><tr class=""><td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">Available in: both Salesforce Classic and Lightning Experience</td></tr><tr class=""><td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">Available in: all editions</td></tr></tbody></table>

You can reference fields from objects that are up to 10 relationships away. A cross-object formula is available anywhere formulas are used except when creating default values.

![Note](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-platform-extend_click-264-0-0-production-enus/5f7d9219-b7b1-4552-8891-f1aba9b289fc/images/icon_note.png)

Note If you create a formula that references a field on another object and display that formula in your page layout, users can see the field on the object even if they don’t have access to that object record. For example, if you create a formula field on the Case object that references an account field, and display that formula field in the case page layout, users can see this field even if they don’t have access to the account record.

You can't include an object as the lookup field in a formula. To reference an object, reference the object's ID field or another field on the object. For example, `Account.Owner` is invalid because it references the object directly. `Account.Owner.FirstName` or `Account.OwnerId` are valid references for your formula.

- **[Building Cross-Object Formulas in the Simple Formula Tab](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.fields_creating_cross_object_simple.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    To create a cross-object formula when building a formula in the Simple Formula tab, enter the relationship names of the objects to which you are spanning followed by the field you want to reference. Separate the relationship names of each object and the field with periods.
- **[Build Cross-Object Formulas in the Advanced Formula Tab](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.fields_creating_cross_object_advanced.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    Create a cross-object formula when building a formula in the Advanced Formula tab or for approvals or rules, such as workflow, validation, assignment, auto-response, or escalation rules.
- **[Tips for Building Cross-Object Formulas](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.fields_creating_cross_object_notes.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    Keep these tips in mind when working with cross-object formulas.

#### See Also

- [Build a Formula Field](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.customize_formulas.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Your custom formula fields require special attributes.")