Salesforce is a cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) software that helps businesses manage customer interactions and improve customer relationships. It was founded in 1999 by Marc Benioff and Parker Harris and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.
Salesforce offers a variety of products and services, including Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Marketing Cloud, Commerce Cloud, Community Cloud, Analytics Cloud, and more. These products help businesses manage their sales, customer service, marketing, e-commerce, and other business processes.
Salesforce is known for its user-friendly interface and customization options, which allow businesses to tailor the software to their specific needs. It also offers a wide range of integrations with other software and platforms, making it a flexible solution for many businesses.
Salesforce has become one of the most popular CRM solutions on the market, with over 150,000 customers worldwide, ranging from small businesses to large enterprises. It is also known for its commitment to social responsibility, including its 1-1-1 model, which involves donating 1% of its time, equity, and products to philanthropic causes.
Table of content
Basic Interview questions
Intermediate interview questions
Advanced interview questions
Conclusion
Salesforce basic interview questions
What is Salesforce?
Salesforce is a cloud-based Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform that enables businesses to manage their customer data, sales processes, and customer interactions.
What are the different editions of Salesforce?
There are four main editions of Salesforce:
- Group
- Professional
- Enterprise
- Unlimited
Why we use Salesforce?
Salesforce is used by businesses to manage customer relationships, automate sales, marketing, and customer service processes, collaborate more effectively, customize their CRM system, automate processes, and gain real-time insights into their business performance.
What is Salesforce Apex?
Salesforce Apex is a proprietary, object-oriented programming language used to build custom applications and business logic on the Salesforce platform. It is similar to Java and C#, and can be used to create custom user interfaces, data manipulations, integrations with other systems, and automations. Apex can be written in the Developer Console, Force.com IDE, and Visual Studio Code, and can be executed by triggers, workflows, and other mechanisms. It also allows developers to access and manipulate Salesforce data using SOQL (Salesforce Object Query Language) and SOSL (Salesforce Object Search Language) queries. Apex code is compiled and executed in the cloud, making it easy to deploy and maintain.
What is an Apex class?
An Apex class in Salesforce is a blueprint for creating custom business logic on the Salesforce platform. It is written in the Apex programming language and can be used to define custom methods, variables, and objects. Apex classes can be used to perform a wide range of functions, such as querying data from Salesforce, manipulating data, generating reports and dashboards, and integrating with other systems. They can be invoked by triggers, workflows, and other Apex code, and can be deployed and maintained in the cloud. Apex classes also provide developers with features such as inheritance, polymorphism, and abstraction, which help in creating scalable and maintainable code.
What is custom object in Salesforce?
A custom object is a unique data structure that you create in Salesforce to store data that is specific to your organization’s needs.
What is the difference between a lead and an opportunity in Salesforce?
A lead is a potential customer that has shown interest in a company’s products or services. An opportunity is a qualified lead that has progressed through the sales cycle and has the potential to turn into a sale.
What is a record type in Salesforce?
A record type allows you to create different sets of picklist values, page layouts, and business processes for different types of records within the same object.
What are the features of Salesforce?
Salesforce offers features such as CRM, collaboration, customization, automation, analytics, mobile accessibility, security, integration, and scalability. These features provide businesses with the tools to improve efficiency, productivity, and customer satisfaction.
What is a workflow rule in Salesforce?
A workflow rule is an automated process that you can create to standardize internal procedures and automate repetitive tasks in Salesforce.
What is a Apex trigger?
An Apex trigger in Salesforce is a piece of code that executes before or after specific events occur on a record or set of records, used to automate business processes, enforce data consistency, and perform custom validations.
What is a profile in Salesforce?
A profile is a collection of settings and permissions that determine what a user can access and do within Salesforce.
What is audit trail?
An audit trail in Salesforce is a record of changes made to a company’s data, including when the changes were made, who made them, and what the changes were. It provides a detailed history of user activity, allowing administrators to track changes, troubleshoot problems, and maintain data integrity. The audit trail is a feature included in Salesforce’s Enterprise and Unlimited editions.
What is a validation rule in Salesforce?
A validation rule ensures that the data entered into a record meets certain criteria before it can be saved.
What are the benefits of using Salesforce CRM?
Salesforce CRM provides several benefits to businesses, including:
- Improved customer relationships and satisfaction.
- Increased sales and revenue.
- Streamlined processes and workflows.
- Better collaboration and communication among teams.
- Enhanced data management and analytics.
- Customization options to fit unique business needs.
- Mobile accessibility for users on-the-go.
- Robust security features to protect sensitive data.
Overall, Salesforce CRM helps businesses to improve efficiency, productivity, and customer satisfaction.
What is a sharing rule in Salesforce?
A sharing rule is a tool that allows you to grant access to specific records or data to certain users or groups of users.
What is a permission set in Salesforce?
A permission set is a collection of settings and permissions that you can grant to a user on top of their existing profile.
What is a report in Salesforce?
A report is a list or summary of records in Salesforce that meets specific criteria and can be used to analyse data and make informed decisions.
What is a junction object in Salesforce?
A junction object is a custom object used to create a many-to-many relationship between two objects in Salesforce.
What is meant by app in Salesforce?
In Salesforce, an app is a set of customized tools and features that are created to support specific business needs. It includes tabs, objects, fields, and other settings that provide a tailored user interface. Apps can be created by administrators or developers and can be designed for different user roles or groups. They can also be published on the Salesforce AppExchange for sharing with other users and organizations.
What is a master detail relationship in Salesforce?
A master-detail relationship is a type of relationship in which the master object controls certain behaviours of the detail object, and the detail object cannot exist without the master object.
What is a dashboard in Salesforce?
A dashboard is a visual representation of data from different sources within Salesforce, which allows you to track and analyse key performance indicators (KPIs) in real-time.
What are the rules in Salesforce?
In Salesforce, rules are used to automate processes and enforce data quality. Some common types of rules include validation rules, which ensure that data entered by users meets specific criteria, and workflow rules, which automate tasks and send email notifications based on certain criteria. There are also sharing rules, which define how records can be accessed by different users or groups, and assignment rules, which automatically assign records to specific users or teams based on certain criteria.
What are the types of relationships in Salesforce?
In Salesforce, there are four types of relationships that can be established between objects:
Master-detail relationship: This relationship creates a parent-child link between two objects, where the child object is dependent on the master object. Deleting the master object also deletes all associated child objects.
Lookup relationship: This relationship links two objects together but doesn’t create a parent-child relationship. It allows users to associate a record from one object to a record in another object.
Many-to-many relationship: This relationship links two objects where each record of one object can be associated with multiple records of the other object, and vice versa. A junction object is used to create this type of relationship.
Hierarchical relationship: This relationship is used to represent hierarchical data, such as organizational structures. Each record in the object is linked to a parent record, except for the root record, which has no parent.
What is a workflow rule in Salesforce?
A workflow rule in Salesforce is an automated process that gets triggered based on certain criteria, such as a record being created or updated. It allows you to define actions, such as sending email alerts or updating fields.
What is a role in Salesforce?
A role defines a user’s position in the organization and determines the level of access they have to data within Salesforce.
What is the difference between a workflow rule and a process builder in Salesforce?
A workflow rule is an automated process that triggers an action when certain conditions are met, while a process builder is a more advanced tool that allows for more complex automated processes.
What are page layouts in Salesforce?
Page Layouts in Salesforce are used to define the layout and organization of fields, related lists, and custom links on a record detail page. They are used to customize the user interface and improve user experience.
What is a Wrapper class?
A Wrapper class in Salesforce is a custom class that is used to encapsulate or wrap a collection of data and its related functionality into a single object. It is often used to simplify the handling of complex data structures in Apex.
How do you deploy Apex code from one Salesforce org to another?
Apex code can be deployed from one Salesforce org to another using tools such as the Salesforce DX CLI or the Salesforce Metadata API.
What is the force.com platform?
The force.com platform in Salesforce is a cloud-based development platform that allows developers to build and deploy custom business applications on the Salesforce infrastructure. It includes tools and services for building, testing, and deploying custom applications in the cloud.
What is the difference between a managed and unmanaged package in Salesforce?
A managed package is a bundle of customizations that can be distributed and installed in other Salesforce orgs, while an unmanaged package is a collection of customizations that can only be installed in the org where they were created.
What is a test class in Salesforce?
A test class is a piece of Apex code that tests the functionality of Apex code in a Salesforce org.
What are permission sets?
Permission Sets in Salesforce are a collection of permissions and settings that can be assigned to users or groups. They can be used to grant additional access or permissions to users beyond what is provided by their profiles, allowing for more granular control over user access and functionality.
What can cause data loss in Salesforce?
Data loss in Salesforce can be caused by a variety of factors including accidental deletion of records, data corruption, synchronization errors with external systems, and overwriting of data due to improper data import or update processes.
Salesforce intermediate interview questions
What is a governor limit in Salesforce?
A governor limit in Salesforce is a limit placed on the amount of data or resources that can be used by Apex code or SOQL queries. These limits are in place to ensure that Apex code doesn’t monopolize Salesforce resources, which could negatively impact the performance of the application. Governor limits include limits on the number of records that can be processed, the amount of data that can be retrieved, and the number of API requests that can be made.
What is a validation rule in Salesforce?
A validation rule in Salesforce is a custom rule that you can define to enforce data quality and consistency. It allows you to specify certain conditions that records must meet before they can be saved. If a record fails to meet the validation rule, an error message is displayed.
How does trigger work in Salesforce?
A trigger in Salesforce is an Apex code that gets executed when a specific event occurs, such as a record insertion, update, or deletion. When the trigger event occurs, the trigger code is automatically executed and can perform additional actions, such as updating related records, sending emails, or performing calculations. Triggers operate on batches of records and can modify data before or after it is saved to the database.
What is the difference between a lookup relationship and a master-detail relationship in Salesforce?
A lookup relationship and a master-detail relationship are two types of relationships in Salesforce that allow objects to be linked together. The main differences between them are:
Ownership: In a master-detail relationship, the child record is owned by the parent record and inherits its sharing and security settings. In a lookup relationship, the child record is independent and has its own sharing and security settings.
Deletion: If a parent record is deleted in a master-detail relationship, all its child records are automatically deleted. In a lookup relationship, child records are not automatically deleted when a parent record is deleted.
Roll-up summary fields: In a master-detail relationship, roll-up summary fields can be used to calculate summary values on child records and display them on the parent record. This feature is not available in a lookup relationship.
Required fields: In a master-detail relationship, the child record is always required to have a parent record, while in a lookup relationship, it is optional.
What is a sharing rule in Salesforce?
In Salesforce, sharing rules are used to extend sharing access to specific records with users who do not have access to them by default. They can be used to give users access to records based on criteria such as record owner, role, public group, or based on a formula. Sharing rules can be set up for both standard and custom objects, and can grant read-only or read-write access. Sharing rules can also be used in combination with other features such as role hierarchies, manual sharing, and account teams to provide granular access control to data.
What is a batch class in Salesforce?
In Salesforce, a batch class is a type of Apex class that is used to process large amounts of data asynchronously in small, manageable chunks called batches. Batch classes are typically used for data manipulation tasks such as updating or deleting large numbers of records, or for complex calculations that require more processing time than is allowed in a single transaction. Batch classes can be scheduled to run at specific times or can be triggered manually by an administrator, and they can be monitored and managed using Salesforce’s built-in tools for monitoring batch jobs.
What is a governor limit exception in Salesforce, and how can it be avoided?
Governor limits in Salesforce are limits on the amount of resources such as CPU time, memory, and database queries that can be used by Apex code in a single transaction. When these limits are exceeded, a governor limit exception is thrown, and the code execution is halted. To avoid governor limit exceptions, developers can optimize their code to use resources more efficiently, minimize the number of database queries, and use best practices such as bulkification and query optimization. Developers can also use asynchronous processing methods such as batch classes and queueable Apex to handle large data volumes and avoid hitting governor limits.
What is lightning component in Salesforce
Lightning Component is a UI framework used in Salesforce to build responsive web interfaces for desktop and mobile devices. It is a collection of reusable building blocks such as buttons, forms, and charts that can be combined to create custom interfaces. Lightning Components are built using standard web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and can be used to create dynamic and interactive interfaces that are optimized for performance and usability.
What is the difference between a sandbox and a production environment in Salesforce?
In Salesforce, a sandbox is a copy of the production environment where developers can build and test changes to the system without affecting the live data. Sandboxes are used for developing and testing customizations, integrations, and other changes before deploying them to the production environment. Production environment is the live and active Salesforce instance where the actual business operations are performed. Changes in the production environment can have an immediate impact on users and data, so they are typically made with greater caution and thorough testing than changes in the sandbox.
What is an Apex Sharing Reason in Salesforce?
In Salesforce, an Apex Sharing Reason is a custom object that defines the reason why a record is being shared with another user or group. Sharing reasons can be used to define the criteria for sharing records, such as sharing records with users in a specific role, or based on the value of a field in the record. Sharing reasons are typically used in conjunction with sharing rules and manual sharing to grant access to records to specific users or groups.
What is a Lightning Web Component in Salesforce?
A Lightning Web Component is a web standard-based component model for building reusable components using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Lightning Web Components are built on top of the Lightning Component framework and are designed to provide a lightweight and optimized performance experience for users. They are used to create custom components that can be reused across applications and are ideal for building single-page applications and custom mobile experiences.
What is the difference between trigger.new and trigger.old in Apex?
In Apex, trigger.new and trigger.old are two context variables that are used in trigger logic to represent the new and old versions of the records that are being processed.
trigger.new represents the new versions of the records that have been modified in the current transaction. For example, if a record is being inserted or updated, trigger.new represents the new values that are being saved.
trigger.old represents the old versions of the records that were previously saved in the database. For example, if a record is being updated, trigger.old represents the values of the record before the update occurred.
By comparing trigger.new with trigger.old, Apex triggers can determine what changes have been made to the records and perform custom logic accordingly, such as updating related records or sending notifications.
What is Batch Apex job in Salesforce?
Batch Apex is a Salesforce feature that allows developers to process large volumes of data in a programmatic way. A Batch Apex job is a set of data that is processed in batches, rather than all at once, to avoid exceeding governor limits. Batch Apex jobs are used for time-consuming operations such as data cleansing, data migration, or database archiving. The Batch Apex job runs in the background and can be scheduled to run at a specific time or manually executed by an administrator.
What is a SOQL query in Salesforce and how does it work?
SOQL (Salesforce Object Query Language) is a query language used to search your Salesforce data for specific information. SOQL works by selecting and filtering data from Salesforce objects using a SQL-like syntax. You can use SOQL to search for records based on certain criteria, retrieve specific fields, and perform aggregate functions on the data. SOQL queries can be executed from the Developer Console, Apex code, Visualforce pages, and other Salesforce tools.
What is the difference between synchronous and asynchronous Apex call?
Synchronous Apex calls are executed in real-time and the user has to wait for the operation to complete before moving on to the next task. Asynchronous Apex calls are executed in the background, without requiring user intervention, and the user can continue to perform other tasks while the operation is being executed. Asynchronous calls are useful for long-running operations, such as batch processing, that would otherwise tie up system resources and make the user interface unresponsive.
What is an Apex interface in Salesforce and how it is used?
An Apex interface in Salesforce is a blueprint for a class that defines a set of methods that a class can implement. It is used to enforce a standard behavior across multiple classes by ensuring that they all implement the same set of methods with the same input parameters and return types. Interfaces are used to achieve polymorphism and decoupling in Apex code, making it easier to change the implementation of a method without affecting other parts of the code. Apex interfaces can also be used to define triggers, schedulable classes, and batch classes.
What is a trigger handler pattern in Apex, and why is it used?
A trigger handler pattern in Apex is a design pattern used to separate the business logic of a trigger from the trigger itself. The pattern involves creating a separate class to handle the logic of the trigger and invoking it from the trigger. This pattern allows for more modular, maintainable, and scalable code, as well as facilitating unit testing and avoiding governor limit exceptions.
What is a Salesforce record?
A Salesforce record is a unit of data that represents a single instance of an object, such as an account, contact, or opportunity, and contains information about that object stored in the Salesforce database.
What is a Salesforce sandbox?
A Salesforce sandbox is a copy of a production environment used for testing, development, and training purposes. Sandboxes are isolated from the production environment, allowing developers to safely test and experiment with changes to customizations, configurations, and integrations before deploying them to the live environment.
What is a Visualforce page in Salesforce?
A Visualforce page is a custom user interface that you can create in Salesforce using a markup language similar to HTML. It allows you to define your own layouts, components, and controllers.
How can you import data into Salesforce?
There are several ways to import data into Salesforce, including using the data import wizard, data loader, third-party tools, or integrating with external systems. The data import wizard and data loader allow you to import data from CSV files, while third-party tools provide additional functionality for data migration and synchronization.
What are the different types of collections available in Apex?
In Apex, there are three main types of collections: Lists, Sets, and Maps. Lists are ordered collections of elements that can contain duplicates, Sets are unordered collections that don’t contain duplicates, and Maps are collections of key-value pairs that allow for fast lookup of values by key.
How can you prevent hitting Governor limits in your Apex code?
To prevent hitting Governor limits in your Apex code, you should be aware of the limits and design your code accordingly. Avoid using nested loops and queries, bulkify your code to process data in batches, and use efficient SOQL and SOSL queries. Additionally, use asynchronous Apex for long-running processes, implement error handling, and monitor your code’s performance to optimize for Governor limits.
How do you bulkify your Apex class?
To bulkify an Apex class, ensure that it can handle collections of records instead of processing records one at a time. This involves querying and manipulating records in bulk using SOQL and DML statements, and using collections like Lists and Maps to group and process data efficiently. Use appropriate data structures and logic to handle large data volumes and optimize performance.
Explain the difference between a standard controller and a custom controller?
A standard controller is a pre-built controller used to create pages for standard Salesforce objects, while a custom controller is a custom Apex class used to create pages for custom objects or to extend the functionality of a standard controller.
How do you use the “with sharing “keyword in Apex?
The “with sharing” keyword is used in Apex to enforce the sharing rules of the current user on the records being queried or manipulated. It is typically used in controller classes and triggers to ensure that users can only access and modify records that they have the appropriate level of access to, as defined by the org’s sharing settings.
Can you explain the difference between a SOQL and SOSL?
SOQL is used to retrieve records from a single object or related objects using relationships. SOSL is used to search across multiple objects for specific search terms. SOQL is more structured and powerful for querying specific records, while SOSL is more flexible and better suited for text-based search queries.
What are the different types of exceptions in Apex?
In Apex, there are two types of exceptions: built-in exceptions and custom exceptions. Built-in exceptions are pre-defined exceptions that are thrown by the system, such as LimitsExceeded or NullPointerException. Custom exceptions are defined by developers to handle specific error conditions in their code and extend the Exception class. Both types can be caught and handled using try-catch blocks.
How do you use Database class in Apex?
The Database class in Apex provides a set of methods for performing DML operations on records, as well as methods for executing SOQL queries, handling exceptions, and managing transactions. It can be used to insert, update, upsert, delete, or undelete records, as well as to perform validation rules and triggers. It also provides methods for asynchronous processing and batch jobs.
Can you explain the difference between a map and a set in Apex?
In Apex, a Map is a collection of key-value pairs that allow for fast retrieval of values by key. A Set is a collection of unique elements with no specific order. While both can contain objects of any type, Maps are used to store and retrieve values based on a key, while Sets are used to check for the presence of elements and remove duplicates.
What is a callout in Salesforce?
A callout is a request from Apex code to an external web service, such as a REST API or SOAP web service.
What is a batch Apex class in Salesforce?
A batch Apex class is a class that is used to process large volumes of records asynchronously in batches.
What is a dynamic Apex in Salesforce?
Dynamic Apex is a way to write Apex code that can access and manipulate data dynamically at runtime, such as creating new fields or objects based on user input.
What is the Salesforce AppExchange?
The Salesforce AppExchange is an online marketplace where developers can distribute and sell their Salesforce apps and integrations to other Salesforce customers.
What is the difference between a trigger and a batch class in Salesforce?
A trigger executes immediately when a record is inserted, updated, or deleted, while a batch class is used to process large volumes of records asynchronously in batches.
Salesforce Advanced Interview Questions
What are the best practices for writing efficient Apex code?
The best practices for writing efficient Apex code include using bulkified code to process data in batches, using efficient SOQL and SOSL queries, optimizing loops and DML statements, minimizing the number of queries in a single transaction, using asynchronous Apex for long-running processes, handling errors appropriately, and monitoring code performance to optimize for Governor limits.
What is a dynamic SOQL query in Salesforce?
A dynamic SOQL query is a way to construct a SOQL query at runtime based on user input or other variables.
what are the tools included in lightning?
Salesforce Lightning includes several tools and frameworks for building custom applications and components on the Salesforce platform. Here are some of the key tools included in Lightning:
Lightning Component Framework – A component-based framework for building reusable UI components using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Lightning Design System – A set of design guidelines, UI components, and CSS frameworks for building responsive, modern interfaces in Salesforce.
Lightning App Builder – A drag-and-drop interface for building custom applications and pages in Salesforce, using Lightning components and design elements.
Lightning Experience – A modern, responsive user interface for Salesforce, built on the Lightning Component Framework and the Lightning Design System.
Lightning Web Components – A framework for building reusable web components using modern web standards like Web Components, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Lightning CLI – A command-line interface for developing Lightning components and applications, using tools like Node.js, npm, and Salesforce CLI.
Lightning Data Service – A data access layer that provides a standard API for working with Salesforce data in Lightning components, and handles data caching, error handling, and security.
These tools are designed to work together to make it easier to build custom applications and components on the Salesforce platform, with a focus on speed, flexibility, and a modern, responsive user experience.
What is a managed package in Salesforce?
A managed package is a bundle of customizations that can be distributed and installed in other Salesforce orgs, and can be protected to prevent unauthorized access to the code.
What is the difference between a trigger and a workflow rule in Salesforce?
A trigger is a piece of Apex code that executes before or after a record is inserted, updated, or deleted, while a workflow rule is an automated process that triggers an action when certain conditions are met.
What is the difference between a before insert trigger and an afterinsert trigger in Salesforce?
A before insert trigger executes before a record is inserted into the database, while an after insert trigger executes after a record is inserted into the database.
What is a data migration in Salesforce?
A data migration is the process of moving data from one Salesforce org to another, typically during a system migration or integration.
What is a managed package namespace in Salesforce?
A managed package namespace is a unique identifier used to distinguish customizations in a managed package from other customizations in a Salesforce org.
What is the difference between a SOQL query and a subquery in Salesforce?
A SOQL query is used to retrieve records from a single object, while a subquery is used to retrieve related records from another object as part of a parent query.
Can you explain the difference between a Lightning Experience and a Classic Experience in Salesforce?
Lightning Experience is the newer and modern user interface for Salesforce, designed to improve user productivity and user experience. Classic Experience, on the other hand, is the older user interface for Salesforce that is less customizable and less mobile-friendly. Lightning Experience provides a more intuitive and responsive interface with enhanced features like the Lightning App Builder and Lightning Components.
Can you describe the difference between a picklist and a multi-select picklist in Salesforce?
A picklist in Salesforce is a field that lets users choose a single value from a predefined list of values. On the other hand, a multi-select picklist is a field that lets users select multiple values from a predefined list of values. Picklists are useful when you need to limit the options available to the user, while multi-select picklists are useful when you need to allow the user to select multiple options at once.
What is the difference between a public group and a queue in Salesforce?
A public group in Salesforce is a collection of individual users or other groups who share a common purpose, and can be used to simplify sharing settings for a specific record or object. A queue, on the other hand, is a shared work area that allows multiple users to work on and manage a set of records together. While public groups are primarily used for sharing and collaboration, queues are primarily used for managing and routing work items.
How do you create a custom tab in Salesforce?
To create a custom tab in Salesforce, navigate to the Object Manager, select the object for which you want to create a tab, click on “Tabs,” and then click “New.” Specify the tab properties and save it.
How do you use data loader in Salesforce?
To use the Data Loader in Salesforce, download and install the Data Loader application on your computer. Then, log in to Salesforce using the Data Loader and select the object you want to import or export data for. Choose the CSV file that contains the data, and specify the settings for the import or export. The Data Loader can be used to import, update, upsert, delete, and export data in Salesforce
How do you design a scalable and efficient data model in Salesforce?
To design a scalable and efficient data model in Salesforce, you should understand the relationships between objects and use lookup, master-detail, and junction objects appropriately. Normalize your data to reduce redundancy, use the appropriate data types for your fields, and avoid large data volumes by archiving or deleting unnecessary records. Also, use custom indexes and query optimization techniques to improve performance.
How do you handle complex business logic in Apex triggers and avoid trigger recursion?
To handle complex business logic in Apex triggers and avoid trigger recursion, you can use static variables, trigger handlers, and recursion control flags. You can also use the Trigger.old and Trigger.new lists to compare old and new record values and avoid unnecessary updates. Additionally, you can use the @future annotation to execute asynchronous code in a separate transaction.
How do you integrate Salesforce with external systems using REST or SOAP APIs?
To integrate Salesforce with external systems using REST or SOAP APIs, you can use Apex classes to make HTTP requests and parse responses. You can also use the Salesforce Connect feature to create external objects and expose them as REST or SOAP APIs. Additionally, you can use the Apex REST or SOAP web services to create custom APIs and endpoints.
What are some common design patterns used in Apex and how do you implement them?
Some common design patterns used in Apex include the Singleton, Factory, Iterator, Command, and Observer patterns. To implement these patterns, you can use Apex classes, interfaces, and inheritance. For example, you can use a Singleton class to create a single instance of an object that can be shared across multiple classes, or use a Factory class to create and manage multiple instances of related objects.
How do you implement a testing strategy for Apex code and what are the best practices for testing in Salesforce?
To implement a testing strategy for Apex code, you can use the Apex Test Execution feature to create and run unit tests, functional tests, and integration tests. You can also use the Test.startTest() and Test.stopTest() methods to control the execution of asynchronous code and measure its performance. The best practices for testing in Salesforce include writing comprehensive test cases, covering all use cases and scenarios, using test data factories to create test data, and adhering to the 75% code coverage requirement.
Can you explain how to use batch Apex to process large data volumes and optimize performance?
Batch Apex is used to process large data volumes in smaller batches, thereby avoiding Governor limits and optimizing performance. To use batch Apex, you can implement the Database.Batchable interface and define the start, execute, and finish methods. You can also use the Iterable interface to define the set of records to be processed
What are the different ways to share a record?
In Salesforce, there are multiple ways to share a record with other users or groups:
Manual Sharing: This allows the record owner or administrator to manually share a record with other users or groups.
Role Hierarchy: By creating a role hierarchy, records can be automatically shared with users higher in the hierarchy.
Sharing Rules: Sharing rules allow you to share records with specific users or groups based on criteria you define.
Apex Sharing: With Apex, you can programmatically share records with other users or groups.
Criteria-based Sharing: This allows records to be shared with specific users or groups based on specific criteria, such as territory, location, or department.
How can you use the @future annotation in Apex?
The @future annotation is used to make a method run asynchronously in the background. It is often used to make callouts, update records, or send email notifications without delaying the execution of the main Apex transaction.
How do you implement a Queueable Apex class in Salesforce?
A Queueable Apex class is implemented by defining a class that implements the Queueable interface, and then adding it to the queue using the System.enqueueJob method. The execute method in the class is called when the job runs.
Can you explain the difference between an Inner Join and an Outer Join in SOQL?
Inner Join returns only the records that have matching values in both tables being joined. Whereas, an Outer Join returns all records from one or both of the tables being joined, regardless of whether there is a match or not.
What is the difference between a Trigger and a Batch Apex? When would you choose one over the other?
A Trigger is an Apex code block that is executed when a specific event occurs in Salesforce, such as the creation or deletion of a record. A Batch Apex job is used to process large amounts of data asynchronously, typically in scheduled intervals or in response to a user-initiated action.
When deciding whether to use a Trigger or Batch Apex, consider the amount of data being processed and the complexity of the logic. Triggers are best suited for processing small amounts of data and can be used to make real-time updates to related records. Batch Apex is designed for processing large amounts of data in batches, which can improve performance and reduce the risk of hitting Governor Limits.
Can you explain how to use Apex to call a REST endpoint and parse the response?
To call a REST endpoint from Apex, use the HTTPRequest and HTTP classes. Here is an example code snippet:
HttpRequest request = new HttpRequest();
request.setEndpoint(‘https://example.com/api/endpoint’);
request.setMethod(‘GET’);
Http http = new Http();
HTTPResponse response = http.send(request);
String responseBody = response.getBody();
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To parse the response, use a JSON parser such as JSON.deserialize(). Here is an example:
Map<String,Object>results=(Map<String,Object>)JSON.deserializeUntyped(responseBody);
String firstName = (String) results.get(‘firstName’);
String lastName = (String) results.get(‘lastName’);
How would you implement a custom Exception class in Apex? Can you provide an example?
To implement a custom Exception class in Apex, create a new class that extends the standard Exception class. Here is an example:
public class MyException extends Exception {
public MyException(String message) {
super(message);
}
}
This class can then be used to throw and catch custom exceptions within Apex code.
What is the difference between a Governor Limit and a Heap Limit in Apex? How can you work around these limits?
Governor Limits are runtime limits enforced by Salesforce on Apex code to ensure that it does not consume too many system resources. These limits include limits on CPU time, heap size, and database operations. Heap Limits refer specifically to the amount of memory allocated to Apex code during execution.
To work around Governor Limits, optimize your code to reduce the amount of system resources it consumes. This can include minimizing database queries, using bulk processing, and avoiding recursive triggers.
To work around Heap Limits, reduce the amount of memory consumed by your Apex code by optimizing your code and avoiding large data structures.
Can you explain how to use Apex to manipulate data in a CSV file?
To manipulate data in a CSV file using Apex, use the CSVReader and CSVWriter classes. Here is an example:
Blob csvData = EncodingUtil.base64Decode(csvFileData);
String csvString = csvData.toString();
List<List<String>> csvRows = CSVReader.parse(csvString);
for (List<String> csvRow : csvRows) {
// Manipulate data as needed
}
String newCsvString = CSVWriter.writeToString(csvRows);
Blob newCsvData = Blob.valueOf(newCsvString);
Can you walk me through how to write a test class for a complex Apex trigger?
To write a test class for a complex Apex trigger, first create test data that covers all the scenarios that the trigger is designed to handle. Then, write test methods that perform actions that should trigger the trigger, and verify that the expected changes have been made to the data.
Here is an example test class:
@isTest
private class MyTriggerTest {
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, Salesforce interviews often focus on a combination of technical skills and knowledge of the Salesforce platform, as well as problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills. It’s important to have a solid understanding of key concepts in Salesforce, such as data modelling, Apex programming, and the various tools and frameworks available in the platform. Additionally, being able to provide clear and concise answers to technical questions, and demonstrating a willingness to collaborate and work through complex problems, can go a long way in impressing interviewers and securing a position on a Salesforce team. Finally, it’s always a good idea to prepare for interviews by researching the company and the position, practicing common interview questions, and reviewing your own experience and skills in the context of the job requirements.