flow in salesforce

 

🌊 What is Flow in Salesforce?

Flow is a declarative (no-code / low-code) automation tool in Salesforce that allows you to automate business processes using a visual drag-and-drop interface called Flow Builder.

With Flow, you can:

• Collect data from users

• Create, update, delete records

• Apply logic (if/else, loops)

• Replace Apex code in many cases

• Build guided screens (wizards)

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📌 Why Salesforce Introduced Flow?

Earlier tools:

• Workflow Rules ❌ (limited)

• Process Builder ❌ (being retired)

• Apex ❌ (requires coding)

✅ Flow replaces all of them with one powerful automation tool

Salesforce recommends Flow for all new automations

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🧠 Real-Life Example (Explain to Students)

Scenario:
When a Student__c record is created:

• If Course = Java

• Automatically set Fee__c = 20000

• Send a confirmation message

👉 This can be done without writing Apex, using Flow

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🛠️ Types of Salesforce Flows (Very Important)

1️⃣ Screen Flow

• Requires user interaction

• Shows screens, forms, buttons

• Used for guided processes

🧩 Example:

Student Registration Form

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2️⃣ Record-Triggered Flow ⭐ (Most Used)

• Runs automatically when record is:

  • Created

  • Updated

  • Deleted

🧩 Example:

When Branch__c is created → auto-set status

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3️⃣ Scheduled Flow

• Runs at a specific time

• Daily, weekly, monthly

🧩 Example:

Send reminder emails every Monday

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4️⃣ Autolaunched Flow

• Runs without UI

• Called from:

  • Apex

  • Another Flow

  • Button

🧩 Example:

Background data processing

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5️⃣ Platform Event Flow

• Triggered by event messages

🧩 Example:

Payment success event triggers update

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🧱 Core Components of Flow Builder

🔹 Elements (Actions)

Element	Purpose
Screen	Take user input
Assignment	Set variable values
Decision	If / Else logic
Get Records	Fetch data
Create Records	Insert records
Update Records	Update records
Delete Records	Delete records
Loop	Iterate records