Metadata Type
A category of Salesforce metadata (like CustomObject, ApexClass, Layout, Flow) that classifies configuration components, used in package.xml manifest files and Metadata API operations to specify wh…
Definition
A category of Salesforce metadata (like CustomObject, ApexClass, Layout, Flow) that classifies configuration components, used in package.xml manifest files and Metadata API operations to specify what to deploy or retrieve.
In plain English
“A Metadata Type is a category of Salesforce metadata like CustomObject, ApexClass, Layout, or Flow. Each type classifies a kind of configuration component. You use metadata types in package.xml manifest files to tell the deployment tools what kind of components to move.”
Worked example
The release engineer at Underwall Mining writes a package.xml file specifying which Metadata Types to deploy: <types><members>*</members><name>ApexClass</name></types>, <types><members>Account-Layout1</members><name>Layout</name></types>, and so on. Each <name> element is a Metadata Type - ApexClass, Layout, CustomObject, Flow, ValidationRule. The deploy operation includes only components of those types matching the listed members. There are over 200 Metadata Types in Salesforce; the package.xml is what specifies the deploy's scope.
Why Metadata Type matters
A Metadata Type is a category of Salesforce metadata (like CustomObject, ApexClass, Layout, Flow, Profile, PermissionSet) that classifies configuration components. Metadata types are used in package.xml manifest files and Metadata API operations to specify what to deploy or retrieve. Each metadata type has its own structure and properties, and the Metadata API handles each type slightly differently based on its specific requirements.
Salesforce supports hundreds of metadata types, reflecting the breadth of customization available on the platform. Mature developers know the most common types (CustomObject, ApexClass, ApexTrigger, LightningComponentBundle, Layout, Profile, PermissionSet, Flow) and can look up the details for less common ones when needed. Understanding metadata type relationships and dependencies is part of being effective with Salesforce deployment tools.
How organizations use Metadata Type
Trains developers on common metadata types as foundational knowledge for deployment work.
Built deployment tooling that understands metadata type dependencies to avoid deployment order issues.
Documents metadata type usage in their deployment playbooks for each component they maintain.
Trust & references
Straight from the source - Salesforce's reference material on Metadata Type.
- PackageSalesforce Developers
Test your knowledge
Q1. What is a Metadata Type?
Q2. Where are metadata types used?
Q3. How many metadata types does Salesforce support?
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