Explain the Salesforce Platform licensing model — Salesforce, Salesforce Platform, and Lightning Platform.

Salesforce (Full CRM): The full Sales or Service Cloud license. Includes access to standard CRM objects (Leads, Opportunities, Cases, Campaigns, Forecasting), all standard reports and dashboards, and full automation capabilities.

Salesforce Platform: A user license for custom app development without the core CRM objects (no Leads, Opportunities, Forecasting, Campaigns). Includes Accounts, Contacts, Tasks, Events, and up to 10 custom objects. Suitable for internal workflow applications, HR portals, or operational tools that don't need CRM functionality. Lower cost than full Salesforce.

Lightning Platform (formerly Force.com): The most restricted license — access to custom objects only (no standard CRM objects at all, except read-only on some). Used for simple custom applications with minimal Salesforce standard object usage.

Architect consideration: Licence cost is a significant factor in solution design. For users who only need custom app functionality, Salesforce Platform or Lightning Platform licences reduce cost significantly. Always map user personas to the minimum required licence type during the design phase.