Salesforce Admin Certification Practice Test

Which type of relationship creates a simple association between two objects?

1. Master-detail relationship

2. Lookup relationship

3. Hierarchical relationship

4. Many-to-many relationship

The correct answer is: Lookup relationship

The lookup relationship creates a simple association between two objects, allowing one object to reference another. This type of relationship is less rigid than a master-detail relationship, providing more flexibility because the two associated objects maintain a level of independence. In a lookup relationship, the child object can exist independently of the parent, allowing for situations where related records might not always require a strict hierarchy or dependency. For instance, if you have a custom object, a lookup relationship would allow you to associate it with a contact without necessitating that the two be tightly bound in a way that would require deletion of one when the other is deleted, unlike a master-detail relationship. In contrast, master-detail relationships create a tighter bond wherein the detail (child) record cannot exist without the master (parent) record. Hierarchical relationships are specific to users for establishing a management structure, while many-to-many relationships involve junction objects to link two different objects, adding complexity rather than simplicity. The lookup relationship, therefore, is best suited for scenarios requiring simple associations.