Lightning App Builder
Lightning App Builder is a feature within Salesforce that allows users to create custom applications and pages with a drag-and-drop interface (similar to Flow Builder).
How Is Lightning App Builder Used?
What are Apps
In Salesforce an App is a collection of objects, features, and pages that help a user have a centralized navigation path in the platform.
Out of the box Salesforce comes standard with Apps like Sales, Sales Console, Service and Service console.
There are two primary types of Apps in Salesforce: Standard and Console.
Standard apps have a different UI, which is tab based and allow users to navigate quickly between records, but view only one record at a time. They utilize a page-layout focus navigation style and are best suited in cases where users will not be multi-tasking.
A console app functions similar to a web browser, in which a user can open multiple tabs at once and has greater ability to multi-task (by viewing multiple records at once).
Console apps have the ability to generate dynamic layouts and utilize lightning components to power more robust workflows.
Creating/Modifying Apps
Within the App Builder a user can create an App from scratch, defining the home page, navigation pages, collections of tabs, components etc.
A user can also modify an existing app, to change the layout style (3 section vs Primary section with sidebar).
The app builder interface is very similar to that of flow builder, where users can drag and drop components to design the layout.
You’re able to determine layout preference (one, two or three columns), dictate fields and reports that should display, embed lightning components into your layout to enable automation and determine how the app is shared with users.
What is the Benefit?
Lightning App Builder provides freedom and flexibility in user interface design, making it easy for users to have layouts customized to their business needs.
It provides a centralized data repository allowing for groupings of objects and pages to drive efficiency for each branch of your user base.
It’s ease of customization allows Admins to spend less time doing custom UI design and more time supporting the business in other areas. The ability to embed components allows for increased efficiencies and a personalized user experience.
Who is Impacted?
Admins
Administrators are able to reduce design time through the user friendly drag and drop interface when building custom apps.
Developers
Developers have the ability to create Lightning Components that will be used in Apps to drive efficiencies for the end users.
End Users
Once created, End Users will utilize the App every day and benefit from the seamless interface and centralized data.