Salesforce Fundamentals18% of the exam

Declarative limits, invocable Apex and custom components

When configuration is enough and when code is justified: the declarative-first rule, the HTTP Callout action with named and external credentials, invocable Apex actions in flows, and when a custom Lightning web component is the answer.

Official exam objective
Given a scenario, identify the boundaries of declarative customization and the use cases for programmatic customization.

~8 min read · 10 practice questions ·

What the exam expects

  • Apply the "declarative first" rule and name the signals that justify code: logic too complex for configuration, a custom user experience, or heavy record volume.
  • Choose the Flow Builder HTTP Callout action for a REST integration and list the credential setup it needs (external credential, named credential, permission set access).
  • Explain when a flow should call an invocable Apex action, why @InvocableMethod replaces Process.Plugin, and why a user can fail at that action.
  • Recognize when a custom Lightning web component is the answer on a record page or a flow screen, and why LWC beats Aura for new work.
  • Key terms: declarative (point-and-click configuration); programmatic (Apex, Lightning components, Visualforce); HTTP Callout action (a flow action that calls a REST API without code); named credential (endpoint URL plus a link to authentication); external credential (how Salesforce authenticates to the remote system); invocable Apex action (an Apex method a flow calls as an Action element).

Key facts

Recommended order
Detail
Declarative first; add code for complex logic or a custom UX; fully programmatic last
Setup order
Detail
Permission set, auth provider (OAuth only), external credential, named credential, then User Credentials access
Callout errors
Detail
Status 300 or greater is an error; handle it with a fault path
Callouts in record-triggered flows
Detail
Only on the asynchronous path, after the save commits
Apex from a flow
Detail
Running user needs the Apex class in a profile or permission set
@InvocableMethod data types
Detail
No generic Object, Sets, Maps or Enums
LWC in a flow screen
Detail
lightning__FlowScreen target plus targetConfig properties
LWC and Aura nesting
Detail
Aura can wrap LWC; an LWC can't contain Aura
Sources for this section (7)
  • Why does Salesforce recommend trying declarative tools before code?
  • Why are the named credential and the external credential separate?
  • Why must a record-triggered flow's callout go on an asynchronous path?
  • Which two features does @InvocableMethod offer that Process.Plugin lacks for flow performance and setup?

The questions are free to read. Answers with their sources and self-grading are included with the pack.

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