Definition
A Custom View (more commonly called a List View) in Salesforce is a filtered, sorted display of records for a particular object. Users create custom views by defining filter criteria, selecting which columns to display, and choosing the visibility (private, shared with groups, or visible to all users). Custom views appear as selectable options in the list view dropdown on object tabs and record home pages.
Real-World Example
When the system admin at BrightEdge Solutions needs to streamline operations, they turn to Custom View to control how users interact with Salesforce data and features. After configuring Custom View 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 Custom View Matters
A Custom View (more commonly called a List View in modern Salesforce) is a filtered, sorted display of records on an object tab. Users create List Views by defining filter criteria (which records to include), selecting which fields to display as columns, and choosing visibility (private, shared with groups, or visible to all users). The List View appears in the dropdown on the object's tab and home page, letting users quickly switch between different slices of data.
List Views are one of the most frequently used features in daily Salesforce work because they let each user carve out the view that matches their role or current task. A sales rep might have views for 'My Open Opportunities', 'My Closed Won This Quarter', and 'Accounts Needing Follow-up'. In Lightning Experience, List Views support inline editing, Kanban view for pipeline management, and mass actions across selected records. Admins can create shared List Views that give every user on a team the same starting point, and can control which Views are available to which profiles.
How Organizations Use Custom View
- •BrightEdge Solutions — Built a shared List View called 'Cases Awaiting Response' that every support agent uses as their starting queue each morning. The view filters to Cases with status 'New' and no recent customer communication, giving agents a clear work list.
- •NovaScale — Uses the Kanban view on Opportunity List Views so reps can drag deals between pipeline stages visually. The drag-and-drop interaction is faster than opening each record and changing the Stage field.
- •Redwood Financial — Locked down List View creation to admins on sensitive objects. Users can use predefined views but can't create new ones that might expose restricted data patterns.