Salesforce Certified Data Architecture Practice Test

External IDs in Salesforce serve a crucial function in establishing relationships between Salesforce records and corresponding records in external systems. These unique identifiers facilitate data integration and synchronization by enabling Salesforce to recognize and match records from other databases or applications without the need for a complex mapping process.

When integrating external systems with Salesforce, external IDs allow for seamless data updates, inserts, and upserts by providing a reliable reference. This means that when data is imported or exported, you can use these external IDs to find an existing record that corresponds to the data being processed. As a result, external IDs help maintain data integrity and avoid duplication, which is particularly important in environments where multiple systems interact.

The other options do not accurately reflect the primary function of external IDs in Salesforce. They do not relate to storing session data, enhancing security, or generating reports, which are managed through different features and tools within Salesforce. This clarifies the specific utility of external IDs in serving as a bridge between internal and external data.