---
schema_version: "1"
id: 089f3b12cdb8fbc3a7614ad1a5e5906f6500ab09bf7cd0359953d6c88ea47987
title: ProcessDefinition
collection: legacydeveloper
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/legacydeveloper/current/en-us/object_reference/sforce_api_objects_processdefinition.md
canonical_url: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.object_reference.meta/object_reference/sforce_api_objects_processdefinition.htm
source_site: developer.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: fe1dbf5467eb827d6401bb2a6d7d4eae8ee5b3317a9c2e866aa54e4e8807c7e5
description: Represents the definition of a single approval process.
---
# ProcessDefinition

Represents the definition of a single approval process.

## Supported Calls

describeSObjects(), query(), retrieve(), search()

Portal and communities users with the Customer Community Plus and Partner Community licenses can access this object. All users in org with approvals enabled have read access to ProcessDefinition.

## Fields

| Field | Details |
| --- | --- |
| Description | 
Type

textarea

Properties

Filter, Nillable, Sort

Description

A description of this process, with a maximum of 3,000 characters.



 |
| DeveloperName | 

Type

string

Properties

Filter, Group, Sort

Description

The unique process name, used internally.



 |
| LockType | 

Type

picklist

Properties

Filter, Group, Restricted picklist, Sort

Description

The type of lock applied to the record being approved. When a record is in the approval process, it’s always locked, and only an administrator can edit it. However, the currently assigned approver can also be allowed to edit the record.

- Total
- Admin
- Owner
- Workitem
- Node
- none





 |
| Name | 

Type

string

Properties

Filter, Group, idLookup, Sort

Description

The external name of the process; the name seen by users.



 |
| State | 

Type

picklist

Properties

Filter, Group, Restricted picklist, Sort

Description

The current state of this process.

- Active
- Inactive
- Obsolete





 |
| TableEnumOrId | 

Type

picklist

Properties

Filter, Group, Restricted picklist, Sort

Description

Specifies the object associated with the approval process, such as Account or Contact.



 |
| Type | 

Type

picklist

Properties

Defaulted on create, Filter, Group, Restricted picklist, Sort

Description

The type of this process.

- Approval Process—Used to control the action taken for a record.
- State-based Process—Used internally to track various control processes, such as for developing Salesforce Knowledge articles.





 |

## Usage

Use this object to read the description of an approval process. The definition is read-only.