Introduction

After going through the basics of the Salesforce SOQL queries now let us check some more examples of the same and the steps to write them in a more detailed manner.

Steps to write SOQL queries

1. Analyse the need: Firstly, we have to analyze the need in the business and proceed with the next steps.
2. Fragment the logic: Now, we have to fragment the business logic.
3. Incremental queries: Now, according to the fragmented logic we have to prepare for the queries.
4. Get the functions required: Get the appropriate functions to write the query efficiently.

Write SOQL Queries

Now, let’s write a basic SOQL query and then look at queries with different SOQL queries to understand better.

Example

SELECT Name, Phone FROM Account 
WHERE Name = “Amazon”

Explanation

Here, the query is simple. We are just trying to retrieve the “Name” and “Phone” fields from the “Account” object with a condition of the only name as “Amazon”.

Queries in SOQL

• The barebones query

SELECT Name, Phone, Companyage__C 
FROM Account

This is a basic query where two standard fields and one custom field are retrieved from the “Account” object.

• The WHERE clause

SELECT Name, Phone FROM Account 
WHERE name = “Amazon”

This query is the same as the one mentioned in the above example. Now, by using a “ WHERE” clause retrieve only the conditions that satisfies the conditions that we have written after the clause.

• Using OPERATORs

SELECT Name, Phone FROM Contact 
WHERE Address != null

Here, we get the “Name” and “Phone” fields from the “Contact” object but only whose addresses are not null. Which is mentioned in the condition after “WHERE” clause.

• Using AND and OR in the WHERE clause

SELECT Name, Phone, Site FROM Account 
WHERE AccountNumber != null AND   Status =  True

Here, we select to get the “Name”, “Phone” and “Site” fields from the “Account” object based on two conditions. One is the “Account Number” field should not be null and the “Status” field should be checked.

• Using TEXT, PICKLIST, or ID values

SELECT Name, Phone 
FROM Leave 
WHERE LeaveNo__c > 3 
AND LeaveType = “Sick Leave” 
AND RecordId !=  “0015g00000MvGguAAF”

Here, we select “Name” and “Phone” fields on specific conditions on Text, Picklist, and Record Id.

• Using Numbers

SELECT Name, Phone FROM Account 
WHERE Phone = null

Here, we select “Name” and “Phone” fields from “Account” object on the condition that the phone’s field should not be null.

• Using Date

SELECT Name__c, Address__c FROM Student__c 
WHERE DateOfJoin__c = TODAY

Here, we need the names and addresses of the students who joined today and we use this query.

• Fuzzy Matching

SELECT Name, Phone FROM Contact 
WHERE Phone LIKE “%(200)%”

Now, the query returns the records whose phone number matches approximately.

• Sorting the results

SELECT Name FROM Account 
ORDER BY Name ASC

Now, you get all the names of the Account present in the org in an ascending order.

• Limiting your results

SELECT Name, Phone 
FROM Account LIMIT 10

Here, you simply get “Name” and “Phone” fields from “Account” object. But as you observe you get only 10 records.

• Putting it all together

SELECT Name, Phone
FROM Contact
WHERE Address != null
AND (Birthdate = TODAY OR Age__c >30)
ORDER BY Name
LIMIT 20

Reference

https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.soql_sosl.meta/soql_sosl/sforce_api_calls_soql_select.htm

https://www.sfdc99.com/2013/06/07/example-how-to-write-a-simple-soql-query/