Salesforce DictionarySalesforce DictionaryData visibility vs feature access
A Salesforce record in the role hierarchy that defines a user's position within the organization's data access structure, determining which records they can see based on the 'roll-up' visibility model.
A Salesforce configuration that defines a user's permissions, page layout assignments, field-level security, and app visibility, serving as the baseline set of access controls assigned to each user in the org.
| Dimension | Role | Profile |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Controls which records a user can see | Controls which features and objects a user can access |
| Hierarchy | Yes — role hierarchy shares records upward | No hierarchy |
| Record Access | Determines sharing and visibility | Determines CRUD permissions on objects |
| Required | Optional | Required — every user must have one |
| Scope | Data access only | Object, field, app, tab, and system permissions |
When you need to control record visibility based on organizational hierarchy.
When you need to define what actions a user can perform on objects and features.
Other side-by-side breakdowns you might find useful