Salesforce Interview Question and Answer

Can you explain the difference between a trigger and a workflow rule in Salesforce?

Answer: "A trigger is an Apex code that executes before or after data manipulation events, such as insertions, updates, or deletions, on Salesforce records. Triggers allow for complex logic and custom processing. On the other hand, a workflow rule is a declarative automation tool within Salesforce that allows you to set up automated actions based on certain criteria being met. While workflow rules are easier to set up, triggers provide more flexibility and control over the execution of logic."

What are Governor Limits in Salesforce, and why are they important?

Answer: "Governor Limits are runtime limits enforced by the Salesforce platform to ensure efficient resource utilization and maintain system performance. These limits include restrictions on the number of SOQL queries, DML statements, CPU time, and more. It's crucial to adhere to these limits to prevent performance degradation and ensure a positive user experience. As a developer, understanding and optimizing code to work within these limits is essential."

How would you implement a roll-up summary field in Salesforce without using the standard functionality?

Answer: "To implement a roll-up summary field without using the standard functionality, I would typically write a trigger in Apex. The trigger would listen for changes on child records and calculate the aggregate value based on specified criteria. Upon detecting a relevant change, the trigger would update the corresponding field on the parent record with the calculated value. This approach allows for customized roll-up logic and flexibility in handling complex scenarios."

What is the difference between SOQL and SOSL in Salesforce?

Answer: "SOQL (Salesforce Object Query Language) is a query language used to retrieve records from Salesforce databases. It allows developers to construct queries to retrieve specific sets of records based on specified criteria, similar to SQL queries. On the other hand, SOSL (Salesforce Object Search Language) is a search language used to perform text searches across multiple Salesforce objects simultaneously. SOSL is useful for finding records that match a search term across different fields and objects."

How do you handle exceptions in Apex code?

Answer: "In Apex, exceptions are handled using try-catch blocks. I use try blocks to enclose the code that might throw exceptions, and catch blocks to handle those exceptions gracefully. Within the catch block, I can log error messages, perform rollback operations, or take other appropriate actions based on the specific exception encountered. Additionally, I leverage system methods like addError() to provide meaningful error messages and guide users on resolving issues."

What is the difference between a sandbox and a production environment in Salesforce?

Answer: "A sandbox is a copy of a Salesforce organization used for development, testing, and training purposes. It allows developers to make changes, test new features, and experiment without impacting the production environment. Sandbox environments are typically used for development, quality assurance, and staging before changes are deployed to the production environment, which is the live instance of Salesforce accessed by end-users."

Explain the concept of batch Apex and when you would use it.

Answer: "Batch Apex is a feature in Salesforce that allows for the processing of large data sets in smaller, manageable chunks to avoid hitting Governor Limits. It involves breaking down a job into smaller batches of records for asynchronous processing. Batch Apex is used when dealing with large volumes of data that may exceed the limits of synchronous processing, such as data manipulation, data cleansing, or complex calculations."

How do you deploy changes from one Salesforce environment to another?

Answer: "Salesforce provides several tools and methods for deploying changes between environments, including Change Sets, Salesforce DX, and Metadata API. Change Sets allow for the deployment of configuration changes and customizations from one Salesforce organization to another through a point-and-click interface. Salesforce DX provides a command-line interface and tools for source-driven development and continuous integration. The Metadata API allows for programmatic retrieval and deployment of metadata components using XML files."

What are static resources in Salesforce, and when would you use them?

Answer: "Static resources in Salesforce are files that are uploaded and stored in the Salesforce organization, such as JavaScript files, CSS files, images, or zip archives. They are typically used to store and serve external content or resources required by Visualforce pages, Lightning components, or Apex code. Static resources provide a convenient way to manage and reference external files within Salesforce applications while ensuring efficient performance and security."

Explain the difference between a before trigger and an after trigger in Salesforce.

Answer: "A before trigger in Salesforce is executed before the record is saved to the database, but after the record is loaded into memory. It is often used to perform validation checks, manipulate data before insertion or update, or perform field calculations. An after trigger, on the other hand, is executed after the record is saved to the database. It is typically used for tasks that require access to the database ID of the record or for performing actions that should occur after the record has been committed to the database."