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SF-0214 · Concept · Easy

What is a data loader?

✓ Verified by Vikas Singhal · Last reviewed 5/17/2026 · Updated for Spring '26

Data Loader is Salesforce’s free, client-side application for moving record data into and out of an org in bulk. You point it at a CSV file, map columns to fields, choose an operation — insert, update, upsert, delete, hard delete, or export — and it pushes the rows through the SOAP or Bulk API.

What it’s for

  • Migrating data from a legacy system into a new Salesforce org
  • Ongoing bulk loads from external systems (billing, ERP, marketing tools)
  • Cleaning data — export, fix in Excel, re-import as an update
  • Mass deletes that would be impossible through the UI
  • Backup-style exports (Export and Export All)

Why use it instead of the Data Import Wizard

The browser-based Import Wizard is friendlier but capped at 50,000 records and supports only a handful of standard objects (Accounts, Contacts, Leads, Solutions) plus custom objects. Data Loader handles up to 5 million records per load, every standard and custom object, and ships a CLI for scheduled jobs.

Key things to know

  • Free — download from Setup → Data Loader → Data Loader for Windows / macOS.
  • Edition requirement — only Enterprise, Performance, Unlimited, Developer, and Database.com editions allow Data Loader use. Professional Edition orgs need an add-on or have to lean on the Import Wizard.
  • Two APIs under the hood — SOAP API by default (200 records per batch) or Bulk API (10,000 records per batch) when you tick the Use Bulk API setting. Large jobs almost always want Bulk API on.
  • Logs — every operation produces a success.csv and error.csv next to the source file, which is invaluable for diagnosing why 17 of your 50,000 rows didn’t load.
  • Command line interface — process.bat / process.sh runs saved configurations from cron or Task Scheduler, the standard pattern for nightly ETL.

A typical session

1. Open Data Loader, click Insert
2. Log in (production or sandbox URL)
3. Pick the target object (e.g. Account)
4. Choose your CSV file
5. Map CSV columns to Salesforce fields (drag-and-drop)
6. Run — watch the success/error counters
7. Review success.csv and error.csv

Bigger picture

Salesforce now ships a web-based Data Loader (login.salesforce.com → Setup → Data Import Wizard / Data Loader) powered by the modern Bulk API 2.0, and partners like Workbench, dataloader.io, and Jitterbit cover overlapping territory. The classic Java-based Data Loader is still the most-used answer in interviews because it’s the official, free, full-featured tool every admin has touched.

Verified against: Data Loader Guide, Metadata API Developer Guide. Last reviewed 2026-05-17 for Spring ‘26 release.