SOSL (Salesforce Object Search Language) and SOQL (Salesforce Object Query Language) are two separate query languages used in Salesforce to retrieve data. Still, they serve different functions and are used in various contexts. This post will explain both SOQL and SOSL query languages.
What is SOQL?
The Salesforce Object Query Language (SOQL) is used to query Salesforce objects. It is similar to SQL but was created specifically for Salesforce data. SOQL retrieves records from one or more Salesforce objects while filtering, sorting, and aggregating the data.
Use Cases for SOQL
- Retrieve records from a single Salesforce object.
- Perform joins to fetch related records using relationship queries.
- Aggregate data using functions like COUNT(), SUM(), AVG(), etc.
- Apply specific criteria to filter records.
// Simple SOQL query to fetch account records
List<Account> accounts = [SELECT Id, Name FROM Account WHERE Industry = 'Tech' ORDER BY Name];
What is SOSL?
Salesforce Object Search Language (SOSL) enables full-text searches across multiple Salesforce objects and fields. It enables you to search for specific text within fields across multiple objects.
Use Cases for SOSL
- When we need to search for specific text or keywords across multiple objects and fields.
- It can retrieve records based on text matches rather than exact field values.
// Simple SOSL query to search across multiple objects
List<List<SObject>> searchResults = [FIND 'tech*' IN ALL FIELDS RETURNING Account(Id, Name), Contact(Id, FirstName, LastName)];
Key Differences Between SOSL and SOQL
| Feature | SOQL | SOSL |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Query data from one or more objects. | Perform text searches across multiple objects. |
| Search Scope | Specific fields in specific objects. | All fields in specified objects or all objects. |
| Object Support | Single object or related objects via relationship queries. | Multiple objects simultaneously |
| Use Case | Structured data retrieval with filters and sorting. | Keyword-based searches for text matches. |
| Result Structure | Structured, tabular format based on specified fields. | List of lists of SObjects. |
| Aggregations | Supports functions like COUNT(), SUM(), AVG(), etc. | No support for aggregations. |
| Performance | Optimized for structured queries | Optimized for text searches |
| Syntax | SELECT fields FROM Object WHERE condition | FIND ‘text’ IN SCOPE RETURNING Object(fields) |
When to Use SOSL
We need SOSL when
- We need to find a keyword or phrase across several objects and fields.
- We need quick text searches rather than precise record retrieval.
- We are unsure where the specific text might be found in Salesforce records.
When to Use SOQL
We can use SOQL when
- We must retrieve data from one or more related objects.
- We must filter, sort, or aggregate data based on specific field values.
- We must run complex queries involving multiple fields and conditions.
References
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