Types of Parent-Child Relationships

Parent-child relationships can exist between two standard records, two custom records, or a combination of standard and custom records. For more information, see Parent-Child Record Relationships.

This topic describes parent-child relationships that you configure by using custom fields. Use these relationships to associate records and display related child records on a parent record.

These relationships only organize related records. They don't create, control, or change the behavior of relationships that NetSuite provides as part of its standard records, transactions, or features.

Watch the following video about types of relationships between parent-child instances.

You can create a parent and child record relationship in several ways, including:

• One parent record type to one child record type

• Many parent record types to many child record types

• Hierarchy of parent-child instances of the same record type

The topics in this section refer to both record types and record instances. Parent-child relationships are established between the record types during record type configuration. Record types can have multiple instances. For example, a child record type of Address can have multiple instances such as home address, mailing address, and shipping address.

To learn more about parent-child record relationships, see the following sections:

• Types of Relationships Between Parent-Child Record Instances

• Custom Record Type Fields that Affect Parent-Child Relationship on Custom Record

• One Parent Record Type to One Child Record Type

• Many Parent Record Types to Many Child Record Types

• Hierarchy of Parent-Child Instances of the Same Record Type

• Parent-Child Relationship Limitations

Related Topics

• Parent-Child Record Relationships
• Establishing a Parent-Child Relationship
• Creating a Parent-Child Relationship
• Using Child Records

General Notices