How does Salesforce manage user permissions?

Salesforce manages user permissions primarily through a combination of profiles and permission sets. Profiles define the baseline access and permissions for a user, determining the standard functionalities they can access, including object permissions, field permissions, and other application-related permissions. However, to offer more flexibility and granularity, Salesforce introduces permission sets, which allow administrators to grant additional permissions to users without the need to create a new profile for each variation of access.

This two-tiered approach enables organizations to effectively manage access at both the general (profiles) and specific (permission sets) levels. Profiles serve as the foundational element, while permission sets enhance the configuration by allowing tailored permissions for individual users based on their unique roles or responsibilities, thus optimizing security and user experiences.

The combination of profiles and permission sets ensures a robust and administratively manageable framework for user access and permissions in Salesforce environments, accommodating diverse user needs without unnecessary duplication of profiles.