Report vs Dashboard
Detailed data analysis vs visual KPI summary
Report
Dashboard
Report
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.
Dashboard
A Dashboard is a Salesforce page that displays the results of several reports as visual components: charts, gauges, metrics, and tables arranged on one screen. Each component reads from exactly one source report and renders a slice of what that report returns. The Metadata API models it as the Dashboard type, with a title, a folder, a running user, and a set of components laid out on a grid. Filters defined on the dashboard apply across those components. Dashboards render cached results rather than live queries. The numbers on screen came from the last refresh, which is why every dashboard carries an "as of" date and time. The reporting logic lives in the reports underneath. The dashboard controls presentation, filtering, and whose access is used to produce the figures.
Key Differences
| 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 to use Report
When you need detailed data analysis, row-level inspection, or data export.
When to use Dashboard
When you want a visual overview of multiple metrics on a single screen.
