Developer Sandboxes and metadata

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated June 9, 2026
  • 1 minute to read

    • Each sandbox provisioned with Developer Sandboxes is an isolated environment within an instance, allowing developers to build and test in parallel without impacting other work.

    Sandboxes can be allocated to specific stories, developers, test plans, or any custom criteria.

    Developer Sandboxes and metadata configuration

    Each sandbox is initialized with the full metadata of the base instance. For example, scripts and business rules.

    Any changes made to metadata configuration in the sandbox do not affect the base instance until changes are merged. For example, you can install a plugin on a sandbox and it won't be installed on the base instance. Developers can use sandboxes to make risky changes without worrying about affecting the base instance or other sandboxes.

    User credentials and roles are isolated to each sandbox. Changing a user's role in a sandbox doesn't affect other sandboxes or the base instance.

    Any changes to metadata configuration must first be committed from the sandbox into the base instance. The Developer Sandboxes administrator must then merge the changes back into the base instance. The changes are then available for the next provisioned sandbox, but not for existing sandboxes.

    Developer Sandboxes and table data

    Table data behavior in sandboxes depends on how each table is configured. By default, tables use the Shared configuration. Tables that extend sys_metadata are configured as Full Copy.

    Records created in a sandbox on a Shared table are immediately available on the base instance and any other sandbox that shares that table. For isolated tables (Full Copy, Zero Copy, or Partial Copy), record changes remain isolated to that sandbox. Making a schema change also isolates the table, and any records added after that point are isolated.

    Developer Sandboxes and business rules

    Business rules are metadata inherited from the base instance. You can see business rules on a sandbox by navigating to All > Administration > Business rules.

    Business rules are copied, but isolated. They are inherited, but changes and additions are isolated on each sandbox. For more information on Business rules, see Classic Business rules.