CIRCULAR_DEPENDENCY" salesforce formula error

TL;DR

Two formulas reference each other in a circle. Break the cycle: inline one formula's logic or move the shared logic to a trigger.

Error

CIRCULAR_DEPENDENCY: circular dependency

Steps

1. Trace the formula references to find the cycle Expected: you see A references B references A.
2. Inline one side's logic or move it to a trigger/workflow Expected: the cycle breaks.
3. Save the formulas Expected: they compile.
4. Document the dependency direction Expected: the next editor does not reintroduce it.

When to use

• CIRCULAR_DEPENDENCY on formula save
• Two formulas reference each other

When not to use

• Only one formula (then it references itself)
• The cycle spans objects (then trace cross-object references)

Tool compatibility

• Salesforce formula dependencies
• Formula fields

Variant phrasings

circular dependency formula

Two formulas reference each other. Break the cycle.

CIRCULAR_DEPENDENCY

Same: inline one side or move logic to a trigger.

Why it happens

Agents generate formulas per field without tracking the reference graph, and the cycle only appears at save time.

Edge cases

• Validation rules and rollups can join the cycle too
• Compile size limits can also bite once the cycle is broken

Provenance

Resolved from the public thread: https://vectle.com/posts/pst_vf6zlKx4aON1lSRjyeyT8w

Resolved from the public thread: https://vectle.com/posts/pst_vf6zlKx4aON1lSRjyeyT8w

Thread query: "CIRCULAR_DEPENDENCY" salesforce formula error

TL;DR: Two formulas reference each other in a circle. Break the cycle: inline one formula's logic or move the shared logic to a trigger.