--- schema_version: "1" id: 5727617d8e43cc7999935db9c1bf1315141df348bef2bcb762339704ba4993cd title: Elements of a Formula collection: admin version: current locale: en-us portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/platform/264-0-0/elements_of_a_formula.md canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.elements_of_a_formula.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 source_site: help.salesforce.com content_type: documentation content_hash: 7b219b463f0c57ce1a8ba4751849ffe44fa73eeda3fc9932d10cf715418d758b description: "Learn the elements you can combine to build a formula: literal values, field references, functions, operators, and comments. Understand what each element does and see an example of how to enter it." products: - Salesforce Platform - Security release: "264" --- # Elements of a Formula Learn the elements you can combine to build a formula: literal values, field references, functions, operators, and comments. Understand what each element does and see an example of how to enter it. ## How a Formula Is Built Use any or all of these elements to build a formula. This example formula combines all elements to calculate 2% of an amount and round the result to two decimal places: ``` /* 2% of Amount, rounded to two decimal places */ ROUND( ( Amount*0.02 ), 2 ) ``` This example uses: - A function, `ROUND`, which returns a number rounded to a specified number of decimal places. - A field reference, Amount. - A literal value, 0.02. - An operator, \*, which multiplies the value of the Amount field by the literal value 0.02. - Another operator, parentheses ( ), which groups `Amount*0.02` as the first argument to `ROUND`. - A second literal value, 2, which is the input that tells `ROUND` how many decimal places to return. - A comment that describes the formula. Comments start with /\* and end with \*/. They’re ignored when the formula runs. ## Literal Value A literal value is a number or text string that you enter directly in a formula. The value is used exactly as entered, without calculating or changing it. - Enter a number directly, as plain digits without commas or currency symbols. Use the decimal form for percentages—for example, enter 0.02 for 2%. To represent $850,000, enter 850000, not 850,000 or $850000. - Enter text by enclosing it in quotation marks. For example, this formula uses the IsWon checkbox on an opportunity and returns a text literal: ``` IF( IsWon, "Won", "Not Won" ) ``` It returns the text “Won” when the opportunity is won. Otherwise it returns “Not Won”. To include a quotation mark or backslash within the text, precede it with a backslash. For an example, see [Tips for Working with Text in Formulas](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.tips_for_using_text_formula_fields.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Get tips for working with text in formulas. Find guidance on using quotation marks to insert or concatenate text, escaping special characters with backslashes, and more."). ## Field Reference A field reference (a merge field) uses the value of another standard or custom field in your formula. Use these syntax forms: - Standard field: `field_name` (for example, Amount) - Custom field: `field_name__C` (for example, Discount\_Percent\_\_c) - Field on a related object (standard relationship): `RelationshipName.field_name` (for example, Account.Name) - Field on a related object (custom relationship): `object_name__r.field_name` or `object_name__r.field_name__c` (for example, Position\_\_r.title\_\_c for a custom field) ![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 For fields on related objects, the relationship name is usually, but not always, the object name. For the full rules on relationship names, see [Merge Fields for Cross-Object Formulas](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.fields_merge_fields_cross_object.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "A Cross-object formula is a formula that spans two related objects and references merge fields on those objects."). You can also reference a value from a custom metadata type. That’s configuration data stored separately from the record, not a field on the object. Use the `$CustomMetadata` global variable, and identify the type, the record, and the field. Use this syntax, replacing each token with your own API names: ``` $CustomMetadata.CustomMetadataTypeAPIName.RecordAPIName.FieldAPIName ``` In this example, `AnnualRevenue__mdt` is the custom metadata type, `Annual_Revenue` is the record’s API name, and Maximum\_Revenue\_\_c is the field: ``` $CustomMetadata.AnnualRevenue__mdt.Annual_Revenue.Maximum_Revenue__c ``` ![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 Referencing custom metadata in formula fields is available in Enterprise, Performance, Unlimited, and Developer Editions. To insert a merge field without typing it, use the **Insert Field** button or the dropdown list. ## Function A function is a system-defined formula that returns a value or values, and can require input from you. Salesforce provides many functions. These functions show how input works: - `TODAY()` requires no input and returns the current date. - `TEXT(` value `)` requires input, such as a percent, number, or currency value, and returns text. For example, `TEXT(ExpectedRevenue)` converts a currency amount such as $200,000 to the text 200000, without the dollar sign or comma. For a complete list of functions, see [Formula Operators and Functions by Context](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.customize_functions.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Use these operators and functions when building formulas. All functions are available everywhere that you can include a formula, such as formula fields, validation rules, approval processes, and workflow rules, unless otherwise specified."). ## Operator An operator is a symbol that specifies the type of calculation to perform, or the order in which to perform calculations. For example: - The + symbol adds two values. - Parentheses ( ) specify which expressions to evaluate first. Comparison operators test whether a condition is true. They include: - < (less than) - \> (greater than) - <= (less than or equal to) - \>= (greater than or equal to) - \= (equal to) - <> (not equal to) This example uses < to compare a currency field with a number: ``` AnnualRevenue < 850000 ``` `AnnualRevenue < 850000` is `TRUE` when an account’s annual revenue is under $850,000. For the complete list of operators, see [Formula Operators and Functions by Context](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.customize_functions.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Use these operators and functions when building formulas. All functions are available everywhere that you can include a formula, such as formula fields, validation rules, approval processes, and workflow rules, unless otherwise specified."). ## Comment A comment is an annotation within a formula. It begins with a forward slash and asterisk (`/*`) and ends with an asterisk and forward slash (`*/`), as shown in this example: ``` /*This is a formula comment*/ ``` Comments document specific parts of a formula for anyone viewing its definition. Salesforce ignores comments when it processes a formula. This example uses comments to document each part of a multi-part formula. The field names, record type name, and picklist text are for illustration. Replace them with values from your org. ``` AND( /*competitor field is required, check to see if field is empty */ LEN( Competitor__c ) = 0, /* rule only enforced for New Business record types */ RecordType.Name = "New Business", /* checking for any closed status, allows for additional closed picklist values in the future */ CONTAINS( TEXT( StageName ), "Closed" ) ) ``` You can also comment out sections of a formula to debug and check the syntax while locating errors. Keep these considerations in mind: - Nesting comments causes a syntax error. For example, you can’t save a formula that contains this string: ``` /* /* comment */ */ ``` - Commenting out an entire formula causes a syntax error. - Comments count against the character and byte size limits in formulas. #### See Also - [Find Examples of Advanced Formulas](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.useful_advanced_formulas.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Review sample formulas for sales, service, financial, employee-services, and integration scenarios. Examples cover commissions and discounts, cross-object references, date and time calculations, image links, data completeness, and more. Adapt the formulas to your fields and business requirements.")