PDI Salesforce Certified Platform Developer 1 (WI25) Questions and Answers

SOSL:

Designed for full-text searches, making it faster for unstructured or broad text searches across multiple objects.

Ideal for searching multiple fields simultaneously.

SOQL:

Optimized for structured queries where you need more control over filtering and relationships.

Can return up to 50,000 records in a single query, while SOSL returns only 2,000.

C and D are incorrect because SOSL is faster for text searches, not SOQL.

SOQL vs. SOSL: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.soql_sosl.meta/soql_sosl/sforce_api_calls_soql_sosl_intro.htm

Why Not Other Options?References:

Correct Syntax for SOSL Query:

Option B uses SOSL (Salesforce Object Search Language) to find records where the phrase 'ACME' appears in any field across multiple objects (Contact and Lead).

Syntax used in Option B:

List> searchList = [FIND 'ACME' IN ALL FIELDS RETURNING Contact, Lead];

This query retrieves a list of SObject lists, where each inner list contains the results for a specific object (e.g., Contact or Lead).

Why not the other options?

A. Option A:

This uses SOQL (Salesforce Object Query Language), not SOSL. SOQL cannot search across multiple objects or fields. The syntax provided is invalid because SOQL doesn’t support "multi-object WHERE conditions."

C. Option C:

The Map syntax is incorrect for SOSL queries. SOSL queries return a List>, not a Map.

D. Option D:

The syntax List for SOSL is incorrect. SOSL must return List> since the results are grouped by object types.

References:

SOSL Queries in Apex

SOQL vs SOSL

Correct Apex Method for Enhance Element:

The method invoked by an Enhance element in a Next Best Action strategy must return a value that can be used in decision-making (e.g., discount level).

The method signature must match the required inputs and outputs for the strategy.

Next Best Action Apex Integration: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.salesforce_nba.meta/salesforce_nba/

References:

Tooling API:

The Tooling API provides programmatic access to manage tests and other metadata in the org.

It can execute test classes or methods remotely.

Developer Console:

The Developer Console is a built-in Salesforce tool to execute Apex tests, debug logs, and more.

Allows developers to execute tests interactively.

B. Metadata API: Used for managing metadata, not for running tests.

C. Bulk API: Used for data operations, not related to testing.

Tooling API Overview: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.api_tooling.meta/api_tooling/

Testing with Developer Console: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.code_dev_console_test.htm

Why Developer Console?

The Developer Console provides tools to troubleshoot query performance, including the Query Plan tool.

The Query Plan tool evaluates SOQL query performance and provides insight into query costs and optimization.

Why Not Other Options?

A. Setup Menu: Used for administrative tasks, not performance troubleshooting.

B. Visual Studio Code IDE: Useful for development, but does not offer query performance tools.

C. AppExchange: Provides apps but does not directly help with query troubleshooting.

Query Plan Tool: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.220.0.salesforce_console.meta/salesforce_console/salesforce_console_query_plan.htm

References:

75% Code Coverage (A):To deploy Apex code to production, Salesforce requires at least 75% of the code to be covered by tests across the organization.

A. 75% Test Coverage: Salesforce mandates that 75% of all Apex code must be covered by tests to be deployable to production.

D. Trigger Coverage: Each Apex trigger must have at least one line of test coverage to ensure it is properly tested.

@InvocableMethod Requirements:

Must be declared as public static.

Must accept and return a List to support batch operations.

Return type should be compatible with Flow Builder, in this case, a List.

Why Option C?

Fulfills all @InvocableMethod requirements:

@InvocableMethod(label='Additional Info')

public static List getInfo(List contactIds) {

// Implementation

}

Why Not Other Options?

A, B, D: Do not adhere to the public static requirement or fail to use a List as input/output.

InvocableMethod Documentation: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.apexcode.meta/apexcode/apex_classes_annotation_InvocableMethod.htm

References:

To override the Account's standard Edit button in Lightning Experience, a Lightning action can be created and associated with the object. This action can include custom logic or a Lightning component.

Why Data Export Scheduled Job?

Salesforce provides an out-of-the-box Data Export feature that allows organizations to back up their data, including attachments.

This feature can be scheduled to run automatically on a monthly basis, fulfilling the requirement.

Why Not Other Options?

A. Schedule a Report: Does not export attachments and is limited to reportable data.

B. Data Loader Command Line: Requires manual setup and scripting, which is unnecessary for this requirement.

D. Create a Schedulable Apex class: Not suitable, as the Data Export tool is more efficient for full data and attachment backup.

Data Export Documentation: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.data_export_overview.htm

References:

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) is the best model for the scenario described because it provides on-demand access to compute, storage, and networking resources that are ideal for a scalable server cluster. IaaS allows the engineering team to rent infrastructure resources without having to invest in physical hardware, making it perfect for temporary or fluctuating workloads, such as scalability testing.

Key Characteristics of IaaS:

Full control over the operating systems and applications running on the servers.

Flexible resource allocation to support high scalability.

Ideal for custom software testing where specific server configurations may be needed.

Why not the other options?

PaaS (Platform as a Service):While PaaS is excellent for application development and deployment, it abstracts the infrastructure layer, which would limit the engineering team's control over the cluster's configuration.

SaaS (Software as a Service):SaaS delivers fully managed applications, not infrastructure or testing environments. It’s irrelevant for this use case.

BaaS (Backend as a Service):BaaS is tailored to mobile or web application backend development, providing APIs and pre-built services, not infrastructure for a server cluster.

Platform Developer References:While this question is broader than Salesforce-specific concepts, understanding IaaS vs. PaaS is relevant when working with Salesforce development. For example:

Salesforce operates as a PaaS (e.g., Force.com platform), allowing developers to build and deploy applications without managing underlying servers.

Testing scalability and performance at an infrastructure level (as in the question) would fall under IaaS concepts, which Salesforce developers might encounter when integrating external services or infrastructure like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.

This foundational knowledge complements your understanding of cloud services in the Salesforce ecosystem.

The Lightning component cannot directly perform SOQL queries.

An Apex class annotated with @AuraEnabled provides server-side logic that can execute the SOQL query and return the data to the Lightning component.

Custom Permission:

Ensures that only the small group of users has access to this functionality.

Dynamic Action:

Allows displaying different fields depending on the user’s role directly on the Account Record Page.

Why Not A or C:

Dynamic Forms are not used to create records for custom objects in this context.

A Lightning Web Component is unnecessary when Dynamic Actions can be used.

Dynamic Actions: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.dynamic_actions.htm

Custom Permissions: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.apexcode.meta/apexcode/apex_classes_perms_custom.htm

References:

The Apex Interactive Debugger allows developers to step through code execution in real time, which is the most effective way to identify the root cause of the duplication issue.

A: A Flow can guide sales reps through a set of scripted steps and call an Apex action to interact with an external REST endpoint.

B: An Invocable method is used to make an Apex method callable from a Flow. This method can call the REST endpoint and return the data for display.

Why not other options?

C: Future methods are asynchronous and cannot return data to the user in real time.

D: Triggers are used for database events, not for guiding users through scripted processes or making REST calls.

References:

Invocable Methods in Flows

Maximum Trigger Depth Exceeded:

This error occurs when a trigger causes recursive calls, leading to an infinite loop of execution.

Solution:

Use static variables in helper classes to prevent recursive trigger execution.

Example:

public class TriggerHelper {

public static Boolean isTriggerExecuted = false;

}

trigger AccountTrigger on Account (after update) {

if (!TriggerHelper.isTriggerExecuted) {

TriggerHelper.isTriggerExecuted = true;

// Trigger logic here

}

}

Why Not Other Options?

A: Permissions do not affect trigger recursion.

B: Length of the trigger is unrelated to recursion.

C: Code coverage does not influence runtime errors like recursion.

Trigger Best Practices: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.apexcode.meta/apexcode/apex_triggers_best_practices.htm

References:

MVC: The Model-View-Controller design pattern is ideal for Salesforce development as it separates the business logic (model), user interface (view), and controller logic, ensuring scalability and maintainability.

Salesforce’s architecture inherently supports MVC, with sObjects as the model, Visualforce or Lightning components as the view, and Apex controllers as the controller.

Why not other options?

A: The Waterfall model is a development methodology, not a design framework.

B: Flux is a front-end application architecture and not relevant to Salesforce.

D: Agile is a development methodology, not a design framework.

References:

Salesforce MVC Architecture

Option B: Reusing event logic in the helper ensures cleaner and reusable code.

Option D: Handling low-level events in handlers and re-firing them as higher-level events allows for better abstraction and modularity.

Apex Trigger (Option B):

An Apex trigger can be written on the Container__c object to prevent deletion unless the Status__c field value is "Decommissioned".

This allows custom logic to be executed during the deletion process.

Why Change Sets?

Change Sets are the recommended and simplest way to deploy metadata, including Apex code and Lightning Components, from Sandbox to Production.

Why Not Other Options?

A: The Force.com IDE is deprecated.

B: The Ant Migration Tool is more suitable for complex deployments but not necessary for standard Sandbox-to-Production migration.

D: Salesforce CLI is effective for deployment but requires scripting expertise, making Change Sets easier for most users.

Change Sets: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.changesets.htm

References:

The Limits class in Apex provides methods to check the consumption of governor limits, such as the number of SOQL queries, DML statements, and heap size used.

Example:

Integer dmlStatements = Limits.getDMLStatements();

Integer dmlLimit = Limits.getLimitDMLStatements();

Not Suitable:

Option A: OrgLimits is not an Apex class.

Option C: Messaging deals with email and messaging operations.

Option D: Exception is for handling exceptions, not tracking resource usage.

Validation Rule Violations:

Salesforce automatically throws exceptions for validation rule violations during DML operations.

is used to display these errors to the user.

Why Not Other Options?

A: Controller attributes alone cannot handle validation messages.

B: A try/catch block does not address validation rule violations effectively.

D: Database.upsert() method is not related to validation error handling.

Apex Messages: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.pages.meta/pages/pages_compref_messages.htm

References:

Why Re-Parentable Master-Detail Field?

A master-detail relationship allows Line Items to roll up totals (e.g., calculate total amount) to the Order.

Setting the relationship as re-parentable supports moving Line Items between different Orders.

Why Not Other Options?

B. Lookup field: Does not support roll-up summary fields for calculations.

C and D: Relationships in the opposite direction (Order to Line Item) do not support the required logic.

Master-Detail Relationships: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.object_reference.meta/object_reference/relationships_master_detail.htm

References:

Execution Flow:

The do-while loop executes the body of the loop before evaluating the condition.

Initial x = 0.

Inside the loop: x = 1 (reassignment) and then incremented to 2.

The condition x < 1 is false after the first iteration, so the loop exits.

Debug Output:System.debug(x) logs 2.

The with sharing keyword ensures that the Apex class respects the sharing rules of the current user, including private sharing models. This means the logged-in user will only see records they own or have been shared with them.

An External ID field is used to match data in Salesforce with data from external systems (like an on-premise SQL database). It allows for easy upserts and data integration without relying on Salesforce IDs.

Why not other options?

A: External objects are used for real-time integration with external systems but do not address data matching directly.

C: Formula fields are calculated fields and cannot be used for data matching.

D: Lookup fields are used for creating relationships between objects within Salesforce, not for matching external data.

A validation rule can ensure that the Lead Source field is populated before the Lead is converted. This prevents users from proceeding unless the required data is entered.

Why not other options?

A: Triggers are programmatic, whereas a declarative solution like validation rules is simpler and more efficient.

B: Lead Conversion field mapping maps fields between Lead and Account/Contact but cannot enforce field requirements.

C: A formula field is read-only and cannot enforce user input.

References:

Validation Rules Documentation

Why WITH SECURITY_ENFORCED?

Ensures field-level security and sharing rules are enforced in SOQL queries.

Prevents unauthorized records or fields from being accessed or displayed.

Why Not Other Options?

B and C: with sharing and inherited sharing enforce record-level access but do not handle field-level security.

D: without sharing ignores sharing rules, which would display all records regardless of user permissions.

Security in SOQL: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.apexcode.meta/apexcode/apex_classes_with_security_enforced.htm

References:

The Boolean isOK variable is declared but not initialized, meaning its value is null by default in Apex.

The code evaluates the if-else conditions in sequence:

Condition 1: isOK == false && theString == 'Hello'

isOK is null, so this evaluates to false.

Condition 2: isOK == true && theString == 'Hello'

Again, isOK is null, so this evaluates to false.

Condition 3: isOK != null && theString == 'Hello'

isOK is null, so isOK != null evaluates to false.

Else block: None of the above conditions are true, so the code enters the else block and sets x = 4.

References:

Apex Boolean Data Type

Option A contains code that improperly handles user input, which may lead to a security vulnerability such as SOQL injection. To avoid this, always use bind variables when constructing queries.

The provided code attempts to update all Lead records in an environment with more than 2,000 records. This will likely exceed the governor limit for the total number of records processed in DML statements, which is 10,000 per transaction. To avoid this, the developer can use Database.update with batching logic.

SFDX CLI (A):Salesforce CLI allows the automation of deployment scripts to sandboxes. Using commands like sfdx force:source:deploy, developers can deploy metadata directly from source control.

Advantages of Lightning Web Components (LWC):

A. Rich component ecosystem:

LWCs have a modern, rich component library designed for modular and reusable development.

D. Self-contained and reusable units:

LWCs are designed to be modular, reusable, and self-contained, reducing duplication and enhancing maintainability.

Why Not Other Options?

B. Log capturing via Debug Logs Setup page: This is unrelated to LWC and is a debugging feature.

C. Built-in standard and custom set controllers: Relevant to Visualforce, not LWCs.

LWC Documentation: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/component-library/documentation/en/lwc

References:

Option C implements a before insert trigger to prevent the creation of Request__c records when specific conditions exist. It uses the addError method to display an error to users.

Example of correct logic:

trigger RequestTrigger on Request__c (before insert) {

for (Request__c req : Trigger.new) {

if (!RequestLogic.isValid(req)) {

req.addError('Your request cannot be created at this time.');

}

}

}

A Global Picklist Value Set allows the same set of picklist values to be shared across multiple objects, making maintenance easier and ensuring consistency.

Why not other options?

B: Alphabetical ordering does not ensure consistent value maintenance across objects.

C: Validation rules do not streamline picklist value maintenance.

D: Restricting picklist values helps ensure data integrity but does not streamline maintenance across objects.

References:

Global Picklists Documentation

Why Validation Rule?

Validation rules are efficient for enforcing field-level conditions without requiring Apex or Flow.

A formula can check if the user’s profile is not "Sales Manager" and if the Lost Reason field is blank when Status is set to "Closed Lost".

Why Not Other Options?

A: Triggers are more complex and unnecessary for this simple validation.

C: Record-triggered flows are less efficient for field validations compared to validation rules.

D: Approval processes do not handle this type of field-level restriction.

Validation Rule Documentation: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.fields_about_field_validation.htm

References:

The Data Import Wizard allows importing data while adhering to Salesforce's sharing and security model. By setting field-level security, sensitive fields can be hidden from unauthorized users.

Other Options:

Option A: Encrypting data externally is unnecessary since Salesforce has built-in security features.

Option B: Using the Data Loader with Apex adds unnecessary complexity.

Option D: The Salesforce CLI does not provide direct data import capabilities with security settings.

A before trigger fires when records are inserted, updated, or deleted. Using the Data Loader or Bulk API to import data updates records, which triggers the before insert or before update events.

Not Suitable:

Option A: Renaming or replacing picklists does not trigger a record-level operation.

Option B: The Mass Address Update tool is not a record operation that triggers before triggers.

Option D: Converting leads to contacts triggers lead conversion events, not directly related to Account triggers.

A: An External ID field is designed to store an ID from another external system, which can be used to match Salesforce records with data from an external source during data imports or integrations.

D: External ID fields are automatically indexed, which can significantly improve the performance of SOQL queries when filtering based on the External ID.

Why not other options?

B: External IDs cannot be formula fields. Only text, number, email, and auto-number fields can be set as External IDs.

C: While External IDs are useful for integrations, they do not make external data visible within Salesforce Mobile.

References:

External IDs Overview

Upload the SVG file as a static resource in Salesforce.

Import it in the LWC JavaScript file and define it as a property.

Reference the property in the component’s HTML template.

Example:

import mySvg from '@salesforce/resourceUrl/mySvg';

export default class MyComponent extends LightningElement {

svgUrl = mySvg;

}

Using a for loop allows iterating through the list, and an if or if-else condition inside can evaluate the LastModifiedDate for each account to determine its status.

Based on the provided code, an exception is likely being thrown if a required field is missing or if there are validation rules that the record does not meet. Salesforce will throw an exception when an attempt to create a record violates constraints.

Why not other options?

B: Salesforce reports errors for failed DML operations unless they are handled in a try-catch block.

C: The record cannot be created successfully if constraints are violated.

D: Debug logs may provide details, but the record creation would fail.

References:

Apex DML Exception Handling

Why Salesforce CLI?

The Salesforce CLI supports scripting for Continuous Integration (CI) pipelines, allowing automatic testing and deployment as part of the CI process.

Why Not Other Options?

B: Visual Studio Code is a development IDE, not a CI tool.

C: Force.com Toolkit is outdated and does not support CI processes.

D: Developer Console is for debugging and manual testing, not automation.

Salesforce CLI Documentation: https://developer.salesforce.com/tools/sfdxcli

References:

Performing queries inside a loop can lead to governor limit exceptions due to too many SOQL queries in a single transaction. Instead, perform queries outside loops.

Option A: The tag ensures that scripts are loaded only once, even if referenced multiple times.

Option D: The tag allows you to specify the order of scripts to ensure dependencies are loaded correctly.

Option E: Externally hosted scripts can be loaded using the scripts attribute.

Not Suitable:

Option B (Loading scripts in parallel): Scripts are loaded sequentially to ensure proper dependency handling.

Option C (Loading Files from Documents): Files must be hosted externally or in static resources, not in Documents.

Lightning Web Components (LWCs) are the best choice for creating custom UI components in Salesforce. They provide robust features such as event handling and server-side communication, allowing for validation of user input before saving data.

When running a flow in debug mode, Salesforce rolls back any DML operations performed during the debugging process to ensure no data changes affect the org. This helps test and verify flow logic without impacting live data.

To embed a Flow in an Aura component, the lightning:flow tag is used. It allows developers to interact with flows declaratively in Aura components.

Declarative customizations, such as workflows, process builder, validation rules, and flows, offer a no-code approach to customizing Salesforce. Below are the key benefits:

Declarative customizations automatically update with each Salesforce release (A):Salesforce ensures that declarative tools are automatically updated during new releases, eliminating the need for manual intervention or code refactoring.

The code provided processes all Case records in a single transaction. Since it attempts to process over 10,000 records, it exceeds the Salesforce governor limit of 50,000 DML rows per transaction, causing the transaction to fail.

Governor Limits on DML Rows (C):Salesforce enforces a governor limit of 50,000 rows for DML operations per transaction. In this case, if the SELECT query retrieves over 50,000 records, the Database.update call will hit this limit and throw a System.LimitException.

A: The save() method in the custom controller must be tested to ensure it works as intended and redirects to the correct page.

B: Setting parameters via ApexPages.currentPage().getParameters() is crucial to test scenarios where user input or URL parameters drive logic.

D: Using Test.setCurrentPage(pageRef) is essential for simulating page context in unit tests.

Why not other options?

C: This statement does not belong to testing a custom controller.

B (second occurrence): It appears to be incorrectly formatted in the question.

References:

Testing Apex Controllers

Unit Test Scenarios:

Option B is valid because getContentAsPDF() can generate PDF content for testing purposes.

Why Not Other Options?

A: Unit tests cannot execute anonymous Apex as a different user.

C: Unit tests cannot perform callouts unless mock responses are provided.

D: The System.createdDate field cannot be set manually in unit tests.

Testing Best Practices: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.apexcode.meta/apexcode/apex_testing_best_practices.htm

References:

In Option B, the webservice keyword is used to declare the class and the specific method updateRecords. This is correct because:

The helper method helperMethod is private and not exposed to the external application.

The webservice method updateRecords is declared global static, making it accessible externally.

This method allows the developer to retrieve all available record types and identify the default record type for the current user by checking the isDefaultRecordTypeMapping() attribute.

Example:

Schema.DescribeSObjectResult describeResult = Opportunity.sObjectType.getDescribe();

for (Schema.RecordTypeInfo recordType : describeResult.getRecordTypeInfos()) {

if (recordType.isDefaultRecordTypeMapping()) {

System.debug('Default Record Type: ' + recordType.getName());

}

}