---
schema_version: "1"
id: d651401c83f6f28b15599c57e02beafc5e9e62f5fa11f9fe0e8066ea3e0ec9c4
title: Use Merge Fields in Email Templates and Letterheads
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/sales/264-0-0/merge_fields_parent.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sales.merge_fields_parent.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 5dcb605d88460ad62ac4fa6e08adf740c6b6d711b672a0a9ea015228b2bf4828
description: A merge field is a placeholder in an email template or letterhead. When you send the email, the placeholder is replaced with the Salesforce data from the record or records of the people you are emailing. When using merge fields, it’s a good idea to understand how they work and what to expect in your merged emails.
products:
  - Sales Cloud
  - Cross Cloud
  - Service Cloud Voice
release: "264"
---
# Use Merge Fields in Email Templates and Letterheads

A merge field is a placeholder in an email template or letterhead. When you send the email, the placeholder is replaced with the Salesforce data from the record or records of the people you are emailing. When using merge fields, it’s a good idea to understand how they work and what to expect in your merged emails.

### 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: Lightning Experience and Salesforce Classic</td>

        </tr>
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          <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">Available in: <strong>All</strong> Editions</td>

        </tr>
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          <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">
            <p id="merge_fields_parent__mass_email_edition_exceptions"><a name="merge_fields_parent__mass_email_edition_exceptions"><!-- --></a>Mass email not available in: <strong>Essentials</strong>,
              <strong>Personal</strong>, <strong>Contact Manager</strong>, and <strong>Group</strong> Editions
            </p>
            <p style="margin-bottom:0;">List email not available in: <strong>Essentials</strong>, <strong>Personal</strong>, <strong>Contact Manager</strong>,
              and <strong>Group</strong> Editions </p>
          </td>

        </tr>
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          <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">
            <p style="margin-bottom:0;">HTML and Visualforce email templates are not available in Salesforce Classic:
              <strong>Essentials</strong> and <strong>Personal</strong> Editions
            </p>
          </td>

        </tr>
      </tbody>
    </table>

- **[Considerations for Using Merge Fields in Email Templates and Letterheads](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sales.merge_fields_email_templates.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    A merge field is a placeholder used in an email, a letterhead, a mail merge template, a custom link, or a formula to incorporate values from a record. When you send the email, the placeholder is replaced with the data from the record or records of the people you’re emailing.
- **[What's the Difference Between HML and SML Merge Languages?](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sales.difference_hml_sml_merge_languages.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    Lightning email templates now use the Handlebars Merge Language.
- **[Use the Handlebars Merge Language in Lightning Email Templates, Enhanced Letterhead, and Email Template Builder](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sales.handlebars_template_language.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    Use the Handlebars Merge Language—available in Summer ‘18—to add dynamic content to your Lightning and Email Template Builder email templates.
- **[Convert a Lightning Email Template from SML to HML](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sales.email_template_convert_from_sml_to_hml.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    Take advantage of the Handlebars Merge Language (HML), which is more flexible than the Salesforce Merge Language (SML), by converting existing Lightning email templates.
- **[Use the Salesforce Merge Language in Lightning Email Templates](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sales.merge_fields_email_templates_lex.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    Read these considerations for using merge fields from the Salesforce Merge Language in Lightning email templates.
- **[Use the Salesforce Merge Language in Classic Email Templates](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sales.merge_fields_email_templates_cex.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    Classic email templates use the Salesforce Merge Language (SML) only. Read these considerations for using SML.