Custom Metadata Types vs Custom Settings vs Custom Labels 💬 In plain words: Three lookalikes: Custom Metadata = configuration that DEPLOYS with your code (best for app settings). Custom Settings = org/user-specific values, changeable at runtime (hierarchy type is great for bypass switches). Custom Labels = translatable text for the UI. 📌 Example: API endpoint URLs per environment → Custom Metadata (deploys with code, sandbox vs prod values). A 'Bypass_Automation__c' checkbox an admin flips during data load → hierarchy Custom Setting. The word 'Submit' translated to Hindi → Custom Label. 🎬 Real-Life Example: The Fee Table Trapped Inside Code Skyline charges a different delivery fee per city. Apex needs those rates on every booking. The Old/Bad Way: if (city == 'Delhi') fee = 50. Else if (city == 'Mumbai') fee = 65. … Every rate change is a code change, a test run, and a deployment. Why this is bad: Business data is trappe...
Introduction:
In Salesforce development, handling JSON data is a common task. Salesforce provides a powerful feature called "JSON2Apex" that allows developers to generate Apex classes from JSON data. This feature simplifies the process of parsing and working with JSON responses from APIs or other external systems. In this blog post, we will explore how to use JSON2Apex to convert JSON data into Apex classes and demonstrate the process with a practical example. By the end of this blog, you will have a comprehensive understanding of how to leverage JSON2Apex effectively.
Prerequisites:
- Basic understanding of Salesforce development.
- Access to a Salesforce Developer Edition or Sandbox.
Step 1: Creating a Sample JSON Response
Before we dive into using JSON2Apex, let's create a sample JSON response that we will work with throughout this blog. Consider the following JSON representing a list of employee data:
{
"employees": [
{
"name": "John Doe",
"age": 30,
"designation": "Software Engineer"
},
{
"name": "Jane Smith",
"age": 28,
"designation": "Technical Writer"
}
]
}
Step 2: Generating Apex Classes with JSON2Apex
In Salesforce, navigate to the "Developer Console" by clicking on your name in the top-right corner and selecting "Developer Console" from the drop-down menu.
- Click on "File" > "New" > "Apex Class."
- Name the class as "EmployeeWrapper" and click "OK."
- Replace the default template with the following Apex code:
public class Employee {
public String name;
public Integer age;
public String designation;
}
public class EmployeeWrapper {
public List<Employee> employees;
}
4. Save the Apex class.
Step 3: Converting JSON to Apex Objects
Now that we have the required Apex classes defined, let's write a simple Apex script to convert the JSON data into Apex objects.
- Open the "Developer Console" again.
- Click on "Debug" > "Open Execute Anonymous Window."
- In the Execute Anonymous window, enter the following code:
String jsonStr = '{
"employees": [
{
"name": "John Doe",
"age": 30,
"designation": "Software Engineer"
},
{
"name": "Jane Smith",
"age": 28,
"designation": "Technical Writer"
}
]
}';
EmployeeWrapper empWrapper = (EmployeeWrapper)JSON.deserialize(jsonStr, EmployeeWrapper.class);
System.debug('Employee 1: ' + empWrapper.employees[0].name);
System.debug('Employee 2: ' + empWrapper.employees[1].name);
4. Click on "Execute" to run the code.
Step 4: Viewing the Output
After running the code, switch to the "Logs" tab at the bottom of the "Developer Console" to view the output.
You should see the following output:
DEBUG|Employee 1: John Doe
DEBUG|Employee 2: Jane Smith
Conclusion:
In this blog post, we explored Salesforce's JSON2Apex feature, which simplifies the process of converting JSON data into Apex classes. We created a sample JSON response and used JSON2Apex to generate Apex classes. Then, we demonstrated how to deserialize JSON data into Apex objects and access the values within those objects. Understanding JSON2Apex is valuable for developers working with JSON data in Salesforce, as it streamlines data handling and manipulation tasks. With this knowledge, you can efficiently work with external API responses or other JSON data sources in your Salesforce projects. Happy coding!