Salesforce enforces relationships between different objects to connect these objects under related lists. One relationship type known as the Many-to-Many entails the use of junction objects to link two related objects. This post will define what a junction object is, how it is used, and how to create one in Salesforce.
What is Junction Object?
Junction objects are custom objects that link other objects via many-to-many relationship. For instance, object A and object B needs to establish a relationship. A junction object is needed to link these two objects together.
Junction objects can also link one object to several related object records. The junction object can hold a master-detail relationship that links to the objects it relates.
Situational Example:
Take for instance Opportunity C, Product D, and Product E. Product D and Product E needs to link to Opportunity C.
Opportunity F, a junction object, is then created to link the two Products to Opportunity C.
The junction object Opportunity F now holds records of Opportunity C, Product D, and Product E together.
Hence, Opportunity F (the junction object) holds Product D and E records, while Product D is present in both Opportunity C and F. Records of Product E are likewise present in Opportunity C and F.
The junction object, therefore, links these three records together in a many-to-many relationship type.
How to Create a Custom Junction Object
Users must first create a custom object that’ll act as the junction object. Here’s how to do it:
- Locate the Quick Find Box under Setup and type Objects.
- Select Objects, then click on New Custom Object. A Custom Object Wizard will appear.
- Simply follow the steps within the wizard to create the fields under the new custom object.
- Add an object name that specifies its particular purpose.
- No need to utilize the custom tab wizard; a junction object stands well alone without a tab.
- Once done, hit Save.
When the junction object’s already up, linking related existing objects can now be done. To do this, create master-detail relationship fields on the junction object via the custom field wizard. Separate master-detail relationship fields must be created for every object that needs to be linked under one junction object.