Is there a BLANK() function in Salesforce formulas?

No. Check Syntax returns “Unknown function BLANK”. To make a formula return nothing, use the keyword NULL, for example IF(ContractTerm < 12, NULL, TEXT(ContractTerm)).

What is the difference between BLANKVALUE and NULLVALUE?

Both return a default when the field has no value, but BLANKVALUE also handles empty text. In my test, NULLVALUE left an empty text field empty while BLANKVALUE returned the default, so use BLANKVALUE in new formulas.

Does BLANKVALUE treat a space as blank?

No. BLANKVALUE(" ", "was blank") returned the space. Use BLANKVALUE(TRIM(field), "default") if users might type spaces.

Can BLANKVALUE return a different data type than the field?

No. Both arguments must be the same type. For a number or date field with a text default, wrap the field in TEXT() first, for example BLANKVALUE(TEXT(ContractTerm), "Not set").

When should I use ISBLANK instead of BLANKVALUE?

Use ISBLANK when you need TRUE or FALSE, for example inside IF() or a validation rule. Use BLANKVALUE when you simply want a fallback value.

BLANKVALUE() in Salesforce: Syntax and Examples

The BLANKVALUE function in Salesforce checks whether a field is blank and, if it is, returns a value you choose instead. It is the standard way to show “Not provided” for an empty text field, fall back to a second field, or give a date a default in a formula field.

In this tutorial, I will explain the syntax, show results I tested in a Salesforce Developer Edition org, compare BLANKVALUE with NULLVALUE and ISBLANK, and answer a question many people search for: how to return a blank value, since Salesforce has no BLANK() function.

This Tutorial Covers: