Understanding Salesforce Object Query Language (SOQL): A Comprehensive Guide
Introduction: Salesforce Object Query Language (SOQL) is a powerful tool that allows developers and administrators to search and retrieve specific information from Salesforce data. Similar to SQL (Structured Query Language), SOQL is tailored specifically for Salesforce data and is used in various environments, including SOAP and REST API calls, Apex statements, Visualforce controllers, Salesforce CLI, and Visual Studio Code extensions. In this blog post, we'll explore the basics of SOQL syntax, when to use it, and its advantages. SOQL Basics: At its core, SOQL operates similarly to SQL's SELECT statement. A basic SOQL query involves specifying the source object, a list of fields to retrieve, and conditions for selecting rows. For example: Apex code SELECT Id, Name FROM Account WHERE Name = 'Sandy' This query retrieves the Id and Name fields from the Account object where the Name is 'Sandy'. SOQL SELECT Syntax: SOQL SELECT statements follow a structured syntax ...