A Comprehensive Guide to Salesforce Triggers: Examples, Use Cases, and a Comparison with Flows

One of the top customer relationship management (CRM) solutions is Salesforce. Because of its adaptability, firms may automate procedures, personalize workflows, and adjust to specific business requirements.

Salesforce Triggers is one of the essential components that makes this customisation possible. We’ll look at trigger definitions, types, functions, and comparisons with Flows, another well-liked Salesforce feature, in this blog post.

What are Salesforce Triggers?

Apex code segments known as Salesforce triggers run either before or after specific database tasks like insert, update, delete, or undelete. They enable developers to execute out specific duties in response to updates made to Salesforce data.

Key Trigger Events:

• Before: Executes before the data is committed to the Salesforce database.
• After: Executes after the data has been committed to the Salesforce database

Types of Salesforce Triggers:

1. Before Insert
2. Before Update
3. Before Delete
4. After Insert
5. After Update
6. After Delete/ After Undelete

Each of these triggers can be used to handle specific scenarios, which we’ll discuss below.

Basic Structure of a Salesforce Trigger

trigger TriggerName on ObjectName  (trigger_events) {

// Code logic goes here

}

• TriggerName: The name of the trigger.
• ObjectName: The Salesforce object on which the trigger is applied (e.g., Account, Contact, Opportunity).
• trigger_events: Defines when the trigger will execute (Before Insert, After Update, etc.)

Example of a Before Insert Trigger

This example shows a Before Insert trigger that ensures that every new Contact record has a valid email address:

Use Case:  Data validation and modification can be accomplished before data is stored to the database by using Before Insert triggers. Here, we make sure that no Contact record is made without a working email address.

Example of an After Insert Trigger

This After Insert trigger creates a task for every new Opportunity record added to the system:

trigger CreateTaskAfterOpportunity on Opportunity (after insert) {

Use Case:  Actions that rely on information already stored in the database can benefit from the use of After Insert triggers. In this instance, the task that the trigger creates is a follow-up to the freshly formed opportunity.

Example of a Before Update Trigger

This Before Update trigger automatically sets a custom “Discount Approved” field to true if the discount exceeds 20%:

Use Case:  When you want to change data before it is changed in the database, before update triggers are the best option. In this case, if the discount percentage is more than 20%, the discount is immediately marked as accepted.

Example of an After Update Trigger

This After Update trigger sends an email to the sales team when an Opportunity is closed:

Use Case: Actions that rely on the prior state of the record can be carried out with the help of after update triggers. Here, an email notice is sent when the Opportunity stage transitions to “Closed Won.”

Example of an After Delete Trigger

This After Delete trigger is used to log records of deleted accounts:

Use Case:  Audit trails benefit from the use of After Delete triggers. In this instance, the trigger records the details of a deleted Account in a custom object.

Example of an After Undelete Trigger

This After Undelete trigger restores a custom “Status” field to “Active” after an Account record has been undeleted:

Use Case: After Undelete triggers are employed when data modification is required following the restoration of a record from the Recycle Bin. Here, when an account is restored, the status is changed to “Active”.

When to Use Triggers?

Complex Business Logic: Triggers are ideal for managing situations that call for complex calculations or verifications.

Cross-Object Field Updates: When modifications to one object need to update fields on adjacent objects, triggers come in handy.

Processing Large Data Sets: Triggers are effective at handling several records in a single transaction, making them suitable for processing large data sets.

Salesforce Flows vs. Triggers: A Comparison

Salesforce provides various tools for automation, two of the most powerful being Flows and Triggers. Here’s a comparison between them:

When to Use Flows:

Simple Record Updates: When a condition is met, flows can be used to create records, send emails, and change fields.

Declarative Approach: Flows offer an intuitive user interface for automating business operations if you’d rather not write any code.

When to Use Triggers:

Complex Logic: Triggers work best when a business process calls for complex logic, such as loops, recursion, or cross-object interactions.
Bulk Data: Triggers are an effective way to manage bulk data processes, particularly when dealing with thousands or even hundreds of records.

When choosing between Flows and Triggers, take the task’s complexity into account. Triggers provide more flexibility and control for complex events, while Flows are great for straightforward automation and business processes.

Next Steps:

1. Try building a simple trigger for your own Salesforce org.
2. Experiment with both Flows and Triggers to understand their strengths and weaknesses for your specific use cases.

Feel free to reach out if you need help with any Salesforce development or automation challenges!

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