Salesforce Flow: Map Collection Support Roadmap

Upcoming Map Collection Support in Salesforce Flow

For years, the Salesforce community has requested enhanced collection types within Salesforce Flow, specifically the ability to use map-like data structures. Historically, Flow Builder has been limited to a single collection type, analogous to an Apex List. This has necessitated complex workarounds for developers needing to manage key-value pairs or more intricate data relationships.

The IdeaExchange Genesis

The long-standing demand for map support in Flow is evident on the Salesforce IdeaExchange. An idea opened in 2015, requesting the ability to use Maps in Flows, garnered over 1,300 votes and consistent community engagement. The core request was for a data structure similar to Apex's Map<Id, sObject>, enabling key-value pair storage and retrieval.

Salesforce's Commitment and New Features

On July 21, 2026, Salesforce provided a positive update regarding this feature request. While direct HashMap functionality might not be the immediate priority, Salesforce plans to address the underlying needs with a suite of new capabilities.

Key upcoming features include:

• Get Related Records (GA): This feature will be made generally available, providing an efficient way to work with nested record collections without manual looping.
• Custom Data Type: A new custom data type will be introduced, akin to Apex-Defined types but without requiring explicit Apex code. This will allow for the creation of more sophisticated collection structures.
• Filtering and Data Extraction Enhancements: Builders will gain the ability to easily extract related records from a collection and filter them based on record fields or related child record fields, removing the need for custom loop logic.

Expected Order of Release (Based on Community Insights)

While official timelines are pending, the anticipated order of feature rollout suggests a phased approach:

1. Easy Related Record Extraction: The ability to retrieve related records from a collection without a loop.
2. Field/Related Record Filtering: Functionality to filter collections based on fields within records or their related children.
3. Custom Data Type Support: Introduction of a new, Apex-like custom data type for advanced collection creation.
4. Get Related Records (GA): The feature will reach general availability once the preceding enhancements simplify nested collection handling.
5. Full HashMap Support: Dedicated HashMap functionality is expected later, as it was positioned as a lower priority compared to the other enhancements.

What Developers Should Do Today

Until these features are officially released and stable in production, it is advisable to continue utilizing existing workarounds and best practices. Maintain a log of implemented workarounds to facilitate future updates once the new Flow capabilities become available. Closely monitor Salesforce release notes and test new features in a sandbox environment as soon as they are accessible.

Key Takeaways

• Salesforce Flow is introducing significant enhancements to collection handling, including map-like capabilities.
• Upcoming features like Get Related Records (GA), custom data types, and advanced filtering will reduce the need for complex Apex and manual looping in Flows.
• While full HashMap support is on the roadmap, it is expected later than the initial set of collection and data handling improvements.
• Developers should continue using current workarounds and prepare for migration as these new features become available in release updates.