Skills Development Salesforce API CRUD Operations

Salesforce API CRUD Operations

v20260423
salesforce-hello-world
This skill provides minimal working examples for connecting to Salesforce, executing SOQL queries, and performing full CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations on standard sObjects. Examples are provided in both TypeScript and Python. It is ideal for initial Salesforce integration testing, learning core API patterns, or performing basic data manipulation in a Salesforce environment.
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Overview

Salesforce Hello World

Overview

Minimal working example: connect to Salesforce, run a SOQL query, and perform basic CRUD on standard sObjects (Account, Contact, Lead).

Prerequisites

  • Completed salesforce-install-auth setup
  • jsforce installed (npm install jsforce)
  • Valid credentials in environment variables

Instructions

Step 1: Connect and Query Accounts

import jsforce from 'jsforce';

const conn = new jsforce.Connection({
  loginUrl: process.env.SF_LOGIN_URL || 'https://login.salesforce.com',
});

await conn.login(
  process.env.SF_USERNAME!,
  process.env.SF_PASSWORD! + process.env.SF_SECURITY_TOKEN!
);

// Your first SOQL query — fetch 5 Accounts
const result = await conn.query(
  "SELECT Id, Name, Industry, AnnualRevenue FROM Account LIMIT 5"
);

console.log(`Total records: ${result.totalSize}`);
for (const account of result.records) {
  console.log(`  ${account.Name} — ${account.Industry ?? 'N/A'}`);
}

Step 2: Create a Record

// Create a new Account
const newAccount = await conn.sobject('Account').create({
  Name: 'Acme Corporation',
  Industry: 'Technology',
  Website: 'https://acme.example.com',
  NumberOfEmployees: 250,
});

console.log('Created Account ID:', newAccount.id);
console.log('Success:', newAccount.success);

Step 3: Read a Record by ID

// Retrieve specific fields by record ID
const account = await conn.sobject('Account').retrieve(newAccount.id);
console.log('Account Name:', account.Name);

// Or use SOQL for more control
const result = await conn.query(
  `SELECT Id, Name, Industry, CreatedDate
   FROM Account
   WHERE Id = '${newAccount.id}'`
);

Step 4: Update a Record

const updateResult = await conn.sobject('Account').update({
  Id: newAccount.id,
  Industry: 'Software',
  Description: 'Updated via jsforce API',
});
console.log('Updated:', updateResult.success);

Step 5: Delete a Record

const deleteResult = await conn.sobject('Account').destroy(newAccount.id);
console.log('Deleted:', deleteResult.success);

Python Example

from simple_salesforce import Salesforce
import os

sf = Salesforce(
    username=os.environ['SF_USERNAME'],
    password=os.environ['SF_PASSWORD'],
    security_token=os.environ['SF_SECURITY_TOKEN']
)

# SOQL query
result = sf.query("SELECT Id, Name, Industry FROM Account LIMIT 5")
for record in result['records']:
    print(f"  {record['Name']} — {record.get('Industry', 'N/A')}")

# Create
new_account = sf.Account.create({'Name': 'Acme Corp', 'Industry': 'Technology'})
print(f"Created: {new_account['id']}")

# Update
sf.Account.update(new_account['id'], {'Industry': 'Software'})

# Delete
sf.Account.delete(new_account['id'])

Output

  • Successful SOQL query returning Account records
  • Created, read, updated, and deleted an Account sObject
  • Console output confirming each operation

Error Handling

Error Cause Solution
INVALID_FIELD Field name wrong in SOQL Check field API names in Setup > Object Manager
MALFORMED_QUERY SOQL syntax error Verify quotes, field names, WHERE clause
INVALID_TYPE sObject name wrong Use API name (e.g., Account, not Accounts)
REQUIRED_FIELD_MISSING Missing required field on create Add required fields (e.g., Name for Account)
ENTITY_IS_DELETED Record already deleted Query with isDeleted = true to find in Recycle Bin

Resources

Next Steps

Proceed to salesforce-local-dev-loop for development workflow setup.

Info
Category Development
Name salesforce-hello-world
Version v20260423
Size 4.47KB
Updated At 2026-04-28
Language