---
schema_version: "1"
id: bfbe24503303461dd8649948e2880c621a7be70cd2cc934e4a3ee2c27909539a
title: Use External Change Data Capture to Track Data Changes on External Objects
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/platform/264-0-0/external_object_change_tracking_intro.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.external_object_change_tracking_intro.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: efc1b94bfb9f3336debea27a0de72f2a942738aec4218716c731c132407980cb
description: With External Change Data Capture, you can track changes to data that is stored outside your Salesforce org when using the OData 4.0 and 4.01 adapters. You can then build automation in response to the changes to increase productivity or provide a better customer experience.
products:
  - Salesforce Platform
  - Security
release: "264"
---
# Use External Change Data Capture to Track Data Changes on External Objects

With External Change Data Capture, you can track changes to data that is stored outside your Salesforce org when using the OData 4.0 and 4.01 adapters. You can then build automation in response to the changes to increase productivity or provide a better customer experience.

The external data change tracking feature polls the external system at configurable intervals (5–30 minutes) for tracked changes. For each external object that has the feature enabled, a topic channel and an associate change event entity are created where change event notifications are published. You add a subscriber to each topic channel and then process the data changes through Streaming API. You can also add an Apex trigger that is called when change event notifications are published.

- **[External Change Data Capture Considerations](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.external_object_change_tracking_considerations.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    Keep these considerations in mind when working with External Change Data Capture.
- **[Enable External Change Data Capture and Tracking](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.external_object_change_tracking_enable.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    Enable external change data capture for the data source and each external object that you want to monitor.
- **[Subscribe to Change Events](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.external_object_change_tracking_subscribe.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    You can use Apex triggers to subscribe to change events. Or you can use a Bayeux client to subscribe to Streaming API on the publication channel.
- **[Check the External Change Data Capture Status for an External Object](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.external_object_change_tracking_check_status.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    You can quickly check the change-tracking status from an external object’s detail page. More detailed monitoring is also available.
- **[Change the Polling Interval for External Change Data Capture](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.external_object_change_tracking_polling_interval.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    By default, the external change data capture feature polls the external system every 30 minutes for tracked changes. You can change the interval to poll the external system as frequently as every 5 minutes.
- **[Monitor and Troubleshoot External Change Data Capture](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.external_object_change_tracking_troubleshooting.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    Check these tips when troubleshooting change tracking on external objects.
- **[Example: How Codey Outfitters Uses External Change Data Capture](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.external_object_change_tracking_example_intro.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    The fictitious company, Codey Outfitters, distributes outdoor equipment from local small businesses to outdoor enthusiasts around the world. The company handles all logistics, such as complying with import laws for each state and country.