Picklist Values
The individual options defined within a Salesforce picklist field, which can be managed as a global picklist value set (shared across fields) or as field-specific values, with options for active/inactive status and record type filtering.
Definition
The individual options defined within a Salesforce picklist field, which can be managed as a global picklist value set (shared across fields) or as field-specific values, with options for active/inactive status and record type filtering.
In plain English
“Picklist Values are the individual options in a picklist field. You manage them either as a global value set (shared across multiple fields) or as field-specific values. Each value can be active or inactive, and you can filter which values appear for different record types.”
Worked example
The admin at Sablefish Seafood manages an Industry picklist field on the Account object that needs different values for two record types: B2B Wholesale Accounts use values like Restaurant, Caterer, Grocery, while B2C Retail Accounts use Online Direct, Farmers Market, Pop-up. Rather than creating two separate Industry fields, she defines a single global picklist value set with all values, then on the field's record-type configuration she filters which Picklist Values appear for each record type. A wholesale account user only sees the wholesale values; a retail user only sees retail values; a value she retires (marked inactive) stops appearing for new records but remains valid on legacy records that already carry it.
Why Picklist Values matters
Picklist Values are the individual options defined within a Salesforce picklist field, which can be managed as a global picklist value set (shared across fields) or as field-specific values, with options for active/inactive status and record type filtering. Admins control the available values, with the ability to add new values, deactivate old ones, and reorder them. Inactive values still exist on records that already use them but can't be selected for new records.
Managing picklist values is part of routine Salesforce admin work. Mature orgs use global picklist value sets when the same set of values appears on multiple fields (so updates only need to happen in one place). They use record type filtering to show different values for different contexts. They deactivate rather than delete values to preserve historical data on existing records. Treating picklist value management with discipline keeps data clean over time.
How organizations use Picklist Values
Uses global picklist value sets for status fields appearing across multiple objects, ensuring consistency.
Filters picklist values by record type so each business process sees only relevant options.
Deactivates old picklist values rather than deleting them to preserve historical record data.
Trust & references
Straight from the source - Salesforce's reference material on Picklist Values.
- Add Picklist ValuesSalesforce Help
About the Author
Dipojjal Chakrabarti is a B2C Solution Architect with 29 Salesforce certifications and over 13 years in the Salesforce ecosystem. He runs salesforcedictionary.com to help admins, developers, architects, and cert/interview candidates sharpen their fundamentals. More about Dipojjal.
Test your knowledge
Q1. What are Picklist Values?
Q2. Why use global picklist value sets?
Q3. Should you delete unused values?
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