Definition
A Collapsible Section in Salesforce is a section on a page layout that can be expanded or collapsed by the user to show or hide the fields within it. Administrators configure collapsible sections in the Page Layout editor, optionally setting them to be collapsed by default. This helps organize record pages by grouping related fields and reducing visual clutter.
Real-World Example
the system admin at BrightEdge Solutions recently implemented Collapsible Section to control how users interact with Salesforce data and features. After configuring Collapsible Section in the sandbox and validating it with key stakeholders, they roll it out to production. User adoption improves because the interface now matches how teams actually work.
Why Collapsible Section Matters
A Collapsible Section is a section on a Salesforce page layout that users can expand or collapse interactively. Administrators configure sections in the Page Layout editor and can mark them as collapsible, optionally setting them to be collapsed by default when the record opens. This helps organize record pages by grouping related fields into logical sections that users can show or hide as needed, reducing visual clutter on records with many fields.
Collapsible sections are most valuable on objects with extensive page layouts where exposing every field at once would overwhelm users. A typical pattern is to keep the most-used sections expanded by default and collapse less-used ones (like detailed history, technical fields, or compliance information) so they're available when needed without cluttering the main view. In Lightning Experience, the same general pattern applies through Lightning Pages and tabs, which can also be used to organize information into focused sections.
How Organizations Use Collapsible Section
- •BrightEdge Solutions — Configured collapsible sections on their Account page layout to group fields by purpose: 'Contact Info', 'Billing Details', 'Custom Attributes', 'Compliance'. The 'Compliance' section is collapsed by default since most users don't need to see it daily.
- •Coastal Health — Uses collapsible sections on the Patient page to separate clinical fields from administrative fields. Clinical staff focus on the clinical section; admin staff focus on the admin section, both on the same page layout.
- •NovaScale — Cleaned up an overgrown Opportunity page by moving rarely used fields into collapsed sections. Users reported that the page felt much less overwhelming without losing access to any information.