Salesforce Object Query Language (SOQL) and Salesforce Object Search Language (SOSL) are two powerful search languages that you can use to build robust search functionality into your app. In general, SOSL is used to search text fields while SOQL is used to search all other fields.

However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Let’s take a closer look at when you should use SOSL vs SOQL in Salesforce.

When to Use SOSL:

1. When you need to search across multiple objects:

Unlike SOQL, which can only query one object at a time, SOSL can query multiple objects simultaneously. This makes it the perfect tool for building cross-object searches. For example, if you want to allow your users to search for accounts and contacts at the same time, SOSL is the way to go.

2. When you need to search text fields:

SOSL is designed specifically for searching text fields. So if you need to allow your users to search for a specific word or phrase across all of your text fields, SOSL is the way to go.

3. When you need more than 200 results:

SOQL has a limit of 200 results per query while SOSL does not. So if you need to return more than 200 results from your search, SOSL is the way to go.

4. When you need wildcard searches:

SOSL supports wildcard searches while SOQL does not. So if you need to allow your users to search for a word or phrase with a wildcard character (e.g. “te*t”), SOSL is the way to go.

When to Use SOQL:

1. When you need to query data from a single object:

SOQL is designed for querying data from a single object. So if you only need to search one object, SOQL is the way to go.

2. When you need complex logic:

SOQL supports complex logical operators (e.g. “AND”, “OR”, “NOT”) while SOSL does not. So if you need to build a search with complex logic, SOQL is the way to go.

3. When you need to query specific fields:

SOQL gives you the ability to query specific fields while SOSL does not. So if you only need to search certain fields, SOQL is the way to go.

4. When you need exact match searches:

SOQL supports exact match searches while SOSL does not. So if you need to allow your users to search for an exact word or phrase, SOQL is the way to go.

FAQs:

1. What is the difference between SOSL and SOQL?

The main difference between SOSL and SOQL is that SOSL can query multiple objects simultaneously while SOQL can only query one object at a time. Additionally, SOSL is designed specifically for searching text fields while SOQL can be used to search all fields.

2. Can SOSL be used to query data from a single object?

No, SOSL cannot be used to query data from a single object. It can only be used to query data from multiple objects simultaneously.

3. Does SOSL support complex logic?

No, SOSL does not support complex logic. It only supports simple logical operators (e.g. “AND”, “OR”, “NOT”).

Conclusion:

When deciding whether to use SOSL or SOQL, it’s important to consider the specific needs of your app. In general, SOSL is used to search text fields while SOQL is used to search all other fields. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. If you need to build a cross-object search or if you need to return more than 200 results, SOSL is the way to go. If you only need to query data from a single object or if you need complex logic, SOQL is the way to go.

So when should you use SOSL vs SOQL in Salesforce? In general, SOSL is used to search text fields while SOQL is used to search all other fields. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. If you need to search across multiple objects, search text fields, or return more than 200 results, SOSL is the way to go. If you need to query data from a single object, use complex logic, query specific fields, or does an exact match search, SOQL is the way to go.