---
schema_version: "1"
id: beb6a551fb2d4b79c6186a0a3c9166a0530109c981c15a60dc8d04277054d346
title: Custom Metadata Type Fields
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/platform/264-0-0/custommetadatatypes_fields.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.custommetadatatypes_fields.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 33d038f2a51ec398bf8b9f0e170c6cdc5227dbd5beda02b53b84752217ff1080
description: Similar to a custom object or custom setting, a custom metadata type has a list of custom fields that represent aspects of the metadata.
products:
  - Salesforce Platform
release: "264"
---
# Custom Metadata Type Fields

Similar to a custom object or custom setting, a custom metadata type has a list of custom fields that represent aspects of the metadata.

### Required Editions

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

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          <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">
            <p>Available in: <strong>Enterprise</strong>, <strong>Performance</strong>, <strong>Unlimited</strong>, and
              <strong>Developer</strong> Editions
            </p>
            <p style="margin-bottom:0;">You can create, edit, and delete custom metadata type
              records from installed packages in: <strong>Group</strong> and <strong>Professional</strong>
              Editions</p>
          </td>

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      </tbody>
    </table>

![Important](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-platform-extend_code-264-0-0-production-enus/789bc523-706b-4ae4-8fe9-be6322e38b6b/images/icon_important.png)

Important

- Custom Metadata Types don’t support Shield Platform Encryption for fields.
- After defined, Custom Metadata Type custom field types can’t be updated. For example, after you define a custom field as Text, you can’t change it to Text Area.
- You can’t add fields directly to a custom metadata type that’s in an installed managed package. To add fields, see [Add Custom Metadata Type Fields to Existing Packages](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.custommetadatatypes_add_fields_packages.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Custom metadata type fields can’t be added directly to a custom metadata type that’s in an installed managed package.").

## Supported Custom Field Types

Custom metadata types support the following custom field types.

- Metadata Relationship
- Checkbox
- Date
- Date and Time
- Email
- Number
- Percent
- Phone
- Picklist
- Text
- Text Area
- Text Area (Long)
- URL

## Field Manageability Options

Custom metadata type fields are manageable, which means that the developer of a type can decide who can change field values after they’re deployed to a subscriber org. This list contains the Field Manageability options.

- Only the package developer (via package upgrade)—(Developer controlled) The developer of a record can change the value of the field by releasing a new version of the custom metadata package. The subscriber can’t change the value of the field.
- Any user with the Customize Application permission (managed package upgrades won't overwrite the value)—(Subscriber-controlled) Anyone with the correct permissions can change the value of the field. First-generation and second-generation manageability package upgrades don’t overwrite the value, however, second-generation unlocked packages do overwrite the value.
- No one—(Locked after release) For any record of the type, the value of the field is immutable after deployment, even on the developer org where the record was created.

#### See Also

- [Custom Metadata Types](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.custommetadatatypes_overview.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "You can create your own declarative developer frameworks for internal teams, partners, and customers. Rather than building apps from data, you can build apps that are defined and driven by their own types of metadata. Metadata is the information that describes the configuration of each customer’s organization.")
- [Custom Metadata Type Fields and Validation Rules](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.custommetadatatypes_field_validation.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "You can use validation rules with fields in custom metadata types, including relationship fields. Keep these tips in mind as you do.")
- [Custom Metadata Types and Advanced Formula Fields](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.custommetadatatypes_formula_fields.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "When you create a custom metadata type, you can reference its values in an advanced formula field. If a field value changes, you can update it in the custom metadata type instead of changing multiple, hard-coded formulas. If you use packaging, define the logic you want and allow your subscribers to customize the details.")