What is the difference between Salesforce Apex and Java ?

Similarities

Read more: Salesforce apex programming examples

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Main Differences

Read more: Array methods in Salesforce Apex

The differences between Salesforce Apex and Java primarily stem from their design and usage contexts, even though they share similarities in syntax and structure.

1. Purpose and Design:
   • Apex: It is a proprietary programming language provided by Salesforce. It is specifically designed for Salesforce environment. Apex is used for writing server-side code to customize Salesforce applications.
   • Java: A general-purpose programming language widely used for a variety of applications, from web and mobile app development to enterprise software and embedded systems.
2. Runtime Environment:
   • Apex: It runs on the Salesforce platform. It is a cloud-based language and is tightly integrated with the Salesforce database.
   • Java: It is platform-independent and can run on any device with a Java Virtual Machine (JVM).
3. Syntax and Language Constructs:
   • Both Apex and Java share similar syntax, inspired by Java and C-like languages. This includes object-oriented features, data types, control flow statements, and exception handling.
4. Database Integration:
   • Apex: Has built-in support for Salesforce’s database and query language (SOQL and SOSL). It is designed to work seamlessly with Salesforce’s database, making it easier to query and manipulate Salesforce data.
   • Java: Can connect to various databases using JDBC, but requires additional configuration and coding for database integration.
5. Limitations and Governance:
   • Apex: Salesforce imposes governor limits to ensure shared resources are used efficiently in the multi-tenant environment. These limits control how much of a resource (like memory, CPU time) an Apex script can consume.
   • Java: Being a general-purpose language, it does not have such inherent governor limits and offers more flexibility in resource usage.
6. Use Cases:
   • Apex: Predominantly used for Salesforce application development, including triggers, classes, and batch jobs within the Salesforce environment.
   • Java: Used in a wide range of applications, from server-side applications, web applications, mobile apps, to desktop applications.
7. Integration Capabilities:
   • Apex: Primarily used for internal integrations within the Salesforce ecosystem.
   • Java: Supports a wide range of integrations with different systems and services, making it more versatile for diverse application development.
8. Development Tools:
   • Apex: Developed using Salesforce Developer Console, Salesforce IDEs like Force.com IDE.
   • Java: Developed using various IDEs like Eclipse, IntelliJ IDEA, and NetBeans.

While Apex and Java share similar syntax and object-oriented features, Apex is specialized for Salesforce customization and is constrained by Salesforce’s environment and governor limits. Java, on the other hand, is a more versatile and general-purpose language used in a wide variety of applications beyond Salesforce.

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Salesforce Apex Example

Trigger to update a field on a Contact record in Salesforce:

trigger UpdateContact on Contact (before update) {
    for (Contact c : Trigger.new) {
        // Assuming 'CustomField__c' is a custom field on the Contact object
        if (c.CustomField__c != null) {
            c.Description = 'Custom Field Updated';
        }
    }
}

Batch Apex for processing records in bulk:

global class ProcessContactsBatch implements Database.Batchable<sObject> {
    global Database.QueryLocator start(Database.BatchableContext bc) {
        return Database.getQueryLocator('SELECT Id, LastName FROM Contact');
    }

    global void execute(Database.BatchableContext bc, List<Contact> records) {
        for (Contact c : records) {
            // Process each contact record
            c.LastName = c.LastName + ' - Processed';
        }
        update records;
    }

    global void finish(Database.BatchableContext bc) {
        // Post-processing actions
    }
}

Java Example

Checkout: Data types in Salesforce Apex

Basic Java Class:

public class HelloWorld {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.out.println("Hello, World!");
    }
}

Java Method to Calculate Fibonacci Series:

public class Fibonacci {
    public static int fib(int n) {
        if (n <= 1) {
            return n;
        }
        return fib(n - 1) + fib(n - 2);
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int result = fib(10);
        System.out.println("10th Fibonacci number is: " + result);
    }
}

Java JDBC Example for Database Connection:

import java.sql.Connection;
import java.sql.DriverManager;
import java.sql.SQLException;

public class DatabaseConnection {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        String url = "jdbc:mysql://localhost:3306/myDatabase";
        String username = "username";
        String password = "password";

        try {
            Connection connection = DriverManager.getConnection(url, username, password);
            System.out.println("Database connected!");
        } catch (SQLException e) {
            throw new IllegalStateException("Cannot connect to the database!", e);
        }
    }
}

Read more: Classes – Salesforce Apex

These examples highlight the distinct uses of Apex and Java. Apex is used for specific Salesforce-related operations, such as triggers and batch processing within Salesforce. Java, on the other hand, demonstrates a broader range of applications including basic programming constructs, recursive functions, and database connectivity.

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