Understanding Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Apex – Salesforce Apex Tutorial 14

Synchronous and asynchronous Apex are like two ways of handling tasks in Salesforce, each with its own timing and purpose. Think of them as the difference between making immediate decisions (synchronous) and scheduling tasks for later (asynchronous).

Synchronous Apex – Immediate Actions

Synchronous Apex is like making decisions on the spot. When you trigger a synchronous process, it performs actions immediately and waits for a response before continuing. It’s like ordering fast food at a restaurant – you place an order, and you get your meal right away.

Why Synchronous Apex Is Used

Synchronous Apex is typically used for tasks that require immediate execution and a quick response. For example, when a user submits a form, you want to validate the data right away and show any errors instantly. Synchronous processes ensure that tasks happen in real-time and in a specific order.

Asynchronous Apex – Scheduled Tasks

Asynchronous Apex, on the other hand, is like scheduling tasks for later. When you trigger an asynchronous process, it queues the task for execution but doesn’t wait for the result immediately. It’s like setting a reminder on your phone to do something later.

Why Asynchronous Apex Is Used

Asynchronous Apex is used for tasks that can be done in the background or tasks that don’t need an immediate response. For example, when you need to process a large amount of data, you can use asynchronous processes to avoid slowing down the system. It’s also handy for sending emails or performing long-running operations without making users wait.

Common Use Cases

Synchronous Apex is often used for tasks like data validation, record updates, and immediate user interactions. It’s crucial for ensuring data accuracy and immediate user feedback.

Asynchronous Apex is used for tasks like data processing, long-running calculations, sending email notifications, and batch operations. It’s valuable for handling tasks that can be time-consuming or that don’t need to happen right away.

Example of Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Apex

Let’s say you have a form on your website. When a user submits the form, you want to validate the data and send a confirmation email.

• Synchronous Apex: You validate the data and send the email immediately after the user submits the form. The user gets instant feedback.
• Asynchronous Apex: You validate the data and schedule the email to be sent later. The user doesn’t have to wait for the email to be sent, and it won’t impact the immediate form submission.

In summary, synchronous and asynchronous Apex are two ways of handling tasks in Salesforce, each with its own timing and purpose. Synchronous processes happen immediately, while asynchronous processes can be scheduled for later execution. Understanding when to use each type of Apex is essential for building efficient and responsive Salesforce applications.

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