# Declarative automation with Flow and approvals

*Platform Developer Study Guide · Process Automation and Logic · Last updated October 15, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-developer/process-automation-and-logic/declarative-automation-capabilities*

What each flow type can and cannot do (screen, record-triggered before and after save, schedule-triggered, platform event-triggered, autolaunched), how flows run by default, and when an approval process is the declarative answer.

- Certification: Salesforce Platform Developer
- Exam section: Process Automation and Logic
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-developer

**Official exam objective:**

> Identify the capabilities of the declarative process automation features.

## What the exam expects

- Pick the flow type from how the automation starts: a user on a page, a record save, a schedule, a platform event message, or a call from Apex or another flow.
- Say what a before-save flow can do that an after-save flow can't (and the reverse), and when work belongs on an asynchronous path.
- Recognise the context a flow runs in by default and what that means for sharing and field access.
- Choose an approval process when a record needs recorded, multi-step sign-off and must be locked while pending.
- Reject retired tools: Workflow Rules and Process Builder are never the answer for new automation.

Key terms: **flow type** (sets allowed elements and launch methods); **$Record** (the record a triggered flow runs for); **fast field updates** (the before-save option); **system context without sharing** (ignores the running user's access); **approval process** (ordered approval steps for a record).

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Before-save elements | Assignment, Decision, Get Records and Loop only | [Before-Save Flows](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_concepts_trigger_record.htm&type=5) |
| Before-save limits | No actions and no changes to related records | [Record-Triggered Considerations](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?language=en_US&id=sf.flow_considerations_trigger_record.htm&type=5) |
| Callouts from a record-triggered flow | Only on the asynchronous path, after the save commits | [Record-Triggered Considerations](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?language=en_US&id=sf.flow_considerations_trigger_record.htm&type=5) |
| Screens | Screen flows only; screen flows don't support Wait elements | [Flow Types](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_concepts_type.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Schedule frequency | Once, daily or weekly; one interview per matching record | [Schedule-Triggered Flows](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_concepts_trigger_schedule.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Default context: record-, schedule- and platform event-triggered | System context without sharing | [Flow Run Context](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.flow_concepts_running_user.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Activating a triggered autolaunched flow | Requires View All Data | [Record-Triggered Considerations](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?language=en_US&id=sf.flow_considerations_trigger_record.htm&type=5) |
| Workflow Rules and Process Builder | Support ended December 31, 2025; build new automation in Flow Builder | [Workflow Rules](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.customize_wf.htm&type=5), [Process Builder](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.process_overview.htm&type=5) |
| Locked record editing (default) | Only users with Modify All on the object or Modify All Data | [Locked Records](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.approvals_create_recordeditability.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |

## Check yourself

- Why is a before-save flow faster than an after-save flow for a same-record update?
- When should a record-triggered flow use an asynchronous path?
- Why can't a record-triggered flow replace a schedule-triggered flow for marking stale records?
- What context does a platform event-triggered flow run in by default?

## Sources

- [Flow Types](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_concepts_type.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Before-Save Record-Triggered Flows](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_concepts_trigger_record.htm&type=5)
- [Record-Triggered Flow Considerations](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?language=en_US&id=sf.flow_considerations_trigger_record.htm&type=5)
- [Schedule-Triggered Flows](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_concepts_trigger_schedule.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Flow Run Context](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.flow_concepts_running_user.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Meet Flow Builder](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/flow-basics/meet-flow-builder)
- [Go with the Flow](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/flow-basics/go-with-the-flow-th)
- [Process Builder](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.process_overview.htm&type=5)
- [Workflow Rules](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.customize_wf.htm&type=5)
- [Classic Approval Processes](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?language=en_US&id=sf.what_are_approvals.htm&type=5)
- [Create a Classic Approval Process with the Standard Wizard](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.approvals_creating_approval_processes.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Specify Who Can Edit Locked Records in a Classic Approval Process](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.approvals_create_recordeditability.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [InvocableMethod Annotation](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.apexcode.meta/apexcode/apex_classes_annotation_InvocableMethod.htm)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 10 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Platform Developer pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams