SF-PD2 Performance Practice Question
A developer needs to improve the performance of a report that queries millions of records across several custom objects. The architect suggests using Skinny Tables. Which TWO statements correctly describe the benefits and limitations of Skinny Tables? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often assume skinny tables are for storage optimization or general performance, ignoring the fact that they primarily exist to reduce join overhead and exclude soft-deleted records.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Skinny tables do not include soft-deleted records, which reduces the volume of data scanned.
Skinny tables are a specialized performance feature in Salesforce that improve query performance by mapping frequently used fields into a separate table. This table contains only the necessary columns, reducing the number of joins required and the overall amount of data scanned. They are particularly useful for large tables but require support assistance for creation and maintenance.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Skinny tables can include fields from different objects, effectively acting as a pre-joined view.
Why it's wrong here
Skinny tables are limited to fields from a single object and cannot span across multiple objects. While they improve performance for the object they are created for, they do not act as a cross-object view. If data from multiple objects is needed, standard relationship queries or separate skinny tables must be utilized.
- ✓
Skinny tables do not include soft-deleted records, which reduces the volume of data scanned.
Why this is correct
One of the primary performance advantages of skinny tables is that they exclude records in the Recycle Bin. In a standard table, the database must filter out soft-deleted records during a query. By omitting these records entirely, skinny tables allow the database to scan a smaller, more relevant dataset, improving speed.
- ✗
Skinny tables are automatically created by Salesforce for any object exceeding 1 million records.
Why it's wrong here
Skinny tables are not automatic; they must be requested through Salesforce Support. The developer must provide the specific fields to be included in the table. Salesforce then creates and maintains the table in the background. It is a manual optimization process reserved for specific high-volume scenarios where standard indexing is insufficient.
- ✓
Skinny tables improve performance by reducing the number of database joins required for a query.
Why this is correct
In the standard Salesforce data model, fields are often split between a base table and an extension table. Querying an object requires the database to join these tables. A skinny table combines the most frequently used fields into a single table, eliminating the need for this join and accelerating query execution time.
- ✗
Skinny tables can be created by developers directly using the Metadata API or Tooling API.
Why it's wrong here
Developers do not have the permissions or API access to create skinny tables themselves. This is a platform-level optimization that requires the Salesforce Performance Team to implement. While developers can identify the need for one, the actual configuration and deployment are handled by Salesforce Support to ensure database stability.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Salesforce exam blueprint
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