Salesforce DictionarySalesforce DictionarySalesforce DictionarySalesforce DictionaryDetailed data analysis vs visual KPI summary
A Report in Salesforce is a saved query against the platform's data, with filters, groupings, summaries, and a chosen layout. Reports answer questions like "how many open opportunities over $50,000 close this quarter?" or "which support agents have the longest average case resolution time?" They are the foundation of every dashboard component, the source for many exports and integrations, and the most-used analytical tool in any Salesforce org. Every report is built on a Report Type, which defines the objects, relationships, and fields available. Filters narrow the row set. Groupings collapse rows into summary buckets. Summary formulas compute derived metrics within groups. The four format variants (Tabular, Summary, Matrix, Joined) shape how groupings and summaries render. Report Builder in Lightning Experience is the modern construction surface, with drag-and-drop column reordering, inline filtering, and live preview. Reports save to folders, and folder access controls who can view, edit, and share each report.
A Dashboard is a Salesforce analytics surface that displays multiple report results as visual components (charts, gauges, metrics, tables) on a single page. Each dashboard component pulls from one underlying report, applies an aggregation or visualization, and renders inside the dashboard layout. Dashboards refresh on a schedule or on demand, and the rendered state caches until the next refresh, so consumers see consistent numbers without re-running reports manually. Dashboards are the executive and operator face of Salesforce data. Sales pipelines, support backlogs, marketing attribution, finance close progress, partner health: each is typically a dashboard with five to twenty components arranged for at-a-glance reading. Lightning dashboards support twenty components per dashboard, with filters at the dashboard level that cascade to every component. Each component has a running user, which determines the data context used to evaluate the source report; this is the mechanism that lets one dashboard serve different audiences based on whose access drives the data.
| Dimension | Report | Dashboard |
|---|---|---|
| Output | Tabular, summary, matrix, or joined data | Visual charts, gauges, tables, and metrics |
| Data Source | Directly queries objects and fields | Built from one or more existing Reports |
| Interactivity | Filter, sort, group, drill into rows | Click components to view underlying report |
| Detail Level | Row-level data with drill-down | Aggregated visual summaries |
| Purpose | Analyze and export detailed data | Monitor KPIs and trends at a glance |
When you need detailed data analysis, row-level inspection, or data export.
When you want a visual overview of multiple metrics on a single screen.