A Beginner’s Guide to Salesforce App Builder: Build Custom Experiences Without Code

The Salesforce App Builder is a powerful tool that allows Admins to create custom, flexible, and user-friendly Lightning Apps—all with clicks, not code.

Whether you’re designing record pages, home pages, or app-specific layouts, this guide walks you through everything you need to know to master App Builder and elevate your org’s user experience.

What Is the Lightning App Builder?

Lightning App Builder is a point-and-click interface for designing pages in Salesforce. You can drag and drop components to create:

• Record Pages (e.g., Account, Opportunity)
• Home Pages (user dashboards)
• App Pages (custom app experiences)

It supports both standard and custom components, visibility rules, and third-party integrations.

Why Use App Builder?

Page Types Explained

1. Record Pages

Customize how users view and interact with records. Great for:

• Adding related lists, tabs, charts
• Embedding Flows or components
• Dynamic visibility of sections

2. Home Pages

Design dashboards, announcements, and task reminders on login.

3. App Pages

Build app-specific pages for business units or user roles.

Key App Builder Components

• Standard Components: Tabs, Related Lists, Chatter, Activities
• Custom Components: Built with Aura or LWC
• Third-party Components: Installed from AppExchange
• Dynamic Forms: Show/hide fields based on logic
• Report Charts: Visuals tied to dashboards

Creating a Lightning App Page (Step-by-Step)

Example: Sales Productivity Page

1. Navigate to Setup > Lightning App Builder
2. Click New > Select App Page
3. Name the page: “Sales Dashboard”
4. Choose 1 Region or 2 Columns Layout
5. Drag components:
   • Today’s Tasks
   • Opportunity Pipeline Chart
   • Recent Opportunities List View
6. Save and Activate
7. Assign to Sales App and profiles

Using Dynamic Visibility Rules

You can control component visibility based on:

• Field values (e.g., Stage = Closed Won)
• User Profile
• Record Type
• Device type (mobile vs desktop)

This allows a personalized experience per user.

Example: Manager-Only Component

Add a “KPI Summary” chart visible only to users with Profile = Sales Manager.

Rule Setup:

• Advanced Visibility Rule
• Profile.Name = "Sales Manager"

Now reps won’t see clutter they don’t need.

Best Practices for Using App Builder

1. Plan Your Layout

Sketch before building. Focus on priority data and key actions.

2. Use Tabs and Accordions

Avoid long scroll pages by organizing into tabs or collapsible sections.

3. Keep Mobile in Mind

Test layouts on the Salesforce Mobile App for responsiveness.

4. Minimize Components per Page

Too many components can slow page loads. Keep it focused.

5. Document Your Pages

Track custom pages and their assignments for maintenance.

Real-World Use Case: Custom Case Management Page

Goal:

Give support reps an efficient view for managing open cases.

Solution:

• Base: Custom Case Record Page
• Tabs:
  • Case Details
  • Related Contacts
  • Knowledge Articles
• Dynamic Components:
  • Escalation Info (shown only if Status = Escalated)
  • SLA Countdown (based on priority)

Outcome: Faster resolution, cleaner UI, better adoption.

Tools That Complement App Builder

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Conclusion

Lightning App Builder empowers Admins to create tailored user experiences that increase productivity and drive adoption—all without touching a single line of code.

Want a ready-to-use Lightning Page layout template? Drop a comment below and we’ll send over our top 3 admin-tested layouts for sales, support, and onboarding!