What is Apex?
Apex is a strongly typed,
object-oriented programming language developed by Salesforce. It enables
developers to execute flow and transaction control statements on the Salesforce
Platform server in conjunction with API calls. Apex is designed to be easy to
use, yet powerful enough to handle complex business processes.
Use
Cases and Benefits of Apex
- Automating Business Processes: Apex
can automate repetitive tasks, reducing manual work and increasing
efficiency.
- Creating Custom Applications:
Developers can build sophisticated, custom applications that run natively
on the Salesforce Platform.
- Integrating with External Systems: Apex
allows seamless integration with external web services and systems.
Apex
vs. Other Programming Languages
- Syntax Similarity: Apex
syntax is similar to Java, making it familiar to developers with a Java
background.
- Built for Salesforce: Apex
is specifically designed for the Salesforce environment, providing
seamless integration with Salesforce features and functionalities.
Apex Syntax and Basics
Data
Types and Variables
Apex supports various data types, including
primitives, collections, sObjects, and user-defined types.
// Primitive data types
Integer count = 10;
String name = 'Salesforce';
Boolean isActive = true;
Date today = Date.today();
Operators
Operators in Apex include arithmetic,
relational, logical, and assignment operators.
Integer a = 10;
Integer b = 5;
Integer sum = a + b; // Arithmetic
Boolean result = a > b; //
Relational
Boolean isActive = true &&
false; // Logical
Integer count = 10; // Assignment
Control Flow Statements
Control flow statements include
conditional statements and loops.
// If-else statement
if (a > b) {
System.debug('a is
greater than b');
} else {
System.debug('a is
less than or equal to b');
}
// For loop
for (Integer i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
System.debug('Value
of i: ' + i);
}
// While loop
Integer j = 0;
while (j < 5) {
System.debug('Value
of j: ' + j);
j++;
}
Collections
Collections in Apex include Lists,
Sets, and Maps.
// List
List<String> fruits = new
List<String>{'Apple', 'Banana', 'Mango'};
System.debug(fruits);
// Set
Set<Integer> numbers = new
Set<Integer>{1, 2, 3, 4, 5};
System.debug(numbers);
// Map
Map<String, Integer> scores = new
Map<String, Integer>{'John' => 90, 'Jane' => 85};
System.debug(scores);
Exception Handling
Exception handling ensures your code
can gracefully handle unexpected errors.
try {
Integer result = 5 /
0;
} catch (ArithmeticException e) {
System.debug('Cannot
divide by zero');
} finally {
System.debug('Execution
completed');
}
Apex Classes and Objects
Defining
Classes and Methods
Classes in Apex are blueprints for
objects. Methods define the behavior of these objects.
public class Calculator {
public Integer
add(Integer a, Integer b) {
return a + b;
}
}
Creating
and Using Objects
Objects are instances of classes.
Calculator calc = new Calculator();
Integer sum = calc.add(10, 5);
System.debug('Sum: ' + sum);
Class
Constructors
Constructors initialize objects.
public class Person {
public String name;
public Integer age;
// Constructor
public Person(String
name, Integer age) {
this.name = name;
this.age = age;
}
}
// Creating an object using constructor
Person john = new Person('John', 30);
System.debug('Name: ' + john.name + ',
Age: ' + john.age);
Access
Modifiers
Access modifiers control the visibility
of classes, methods, and variables.
- public: Accessible anywhere.
- private: Accessible only within the defining class.
- global: Accessible across namespaces.
- protected: Accessible within the defining class and its
subclasses.
Assignments:
1. Create variables for storing your name, age, and
today's date. Print these values using System.debug().
2. Define a class Car with attributes make, model, and year. Create a constructor to initialize these
attributes and a method to display the car details. Create an object of the
class and display its details.
3. Perform basic arithmetic operations (addition,
subtraction, multiplication, division) on two numbers and print the results.
4. Write a program that prints the first 10 even
numbers using a for loop.
5. Create a list of your favorite books, a set of
unique numbers, and a map of student names and their grades. Print these
collections.
6. Write a program that attempts to convert a string
to an integer. Handle the possible NumberFormatException and print an appropriate message.
For more in-depth tutorials and learning paths, refer to the following
resources:
- Trailhead Modules: https://trailhead.salesforce.com/
- Salesforce Developer Guide: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/
- Salesforce Apex
Documentation: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.apexcode.meta/apexcode/
Happy learning!
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