Action Link Templates
Action Link Templates define reusable action links that can be attached to feed elements in Chatter.
Definition
Action Link Templates define reusable action links that can be attached to feed elements in Chatter. An action link is a button on a feed post that lets users take actions such as calling an API, downloading a file, or navigating to a URL directly from their Chatter feed. Templates allow developers to define these actions once and apply them across multiple posts.
In plain English
“Here's a simple way to think about it: an Action Link Template is a reusable button definition for Chatter posts. Define it once - "Approve", "Open ticket", "Track engagement" - and any post can drop the same button on it without redefining what the button does.”
Worked example
A developer at CloudSync creates an Action Link Template called "Approve Expense" that adds a button directly to Chatter posts generated by the expense approval process. When a manager sees an expense request in their feed, they can click "Approve" or "Reject" right from the post without navigating to the record, streamlining the review process.
Why Action Link Templates make Chatter posts a launching pad for actions
A Chatter post is mostly text - but with Action Link Templates, it can become a control surface. An action link is a button on a feed post that, when clicked, calls an API, downloads a file, navigates to a URL, or triggers a custom flow. Action Link Templates are the reusable definitions that developers and admins create once, then attach to many posts. Think of them as the Chatter-feed equivalent of a quick action on a record.
The reason they're worth knowing about is that they unlock workflow patterns Chatter alone can't deliver. A daily digest post with an approve button on each line item; a notification feed where each entry has an action attached; an internal announcement with a track-this button that records engagement. The templates make repeated use cheap, which is what turns clever one-offs into habitual workflows.
How to set up Action Link Templates
Action Link Templates are reusable Chatter feed-action button definitions — "download this file," "call this API," "navigate to this URL." Once a template is defined, developers attach action links to Chatter feed posts via the Connect API. Useful for building action-rich Chatter integrations (approval requests, link-to-record, etc.) but a niche feature most modern orgs don't use.
- Open Setup → Action Link Templates
Setup gear → Quick Find: Action Link → Action Link Templates.
- Click New
Top-right of the list.
- Set Action Link Template Name and Master Label
Convention: per-action description ("Download Quote PDF").
- Set Action URL
Where the button click goes — external URL, REST API endpoint, or Salesforce-internal URL.
- Set HTTP Method
GET / POST / PUT / DELETE / etc. For API actions; navigation links use GET.
- Set HTTP Request Body Template (for POST/PUT)
Body sent with the request. Supports variables that get substituted at runtime.
- Set User Visibility (Active / Inactive)
Inactive templates exist but can't be used in new feed posts.
- Save
Template is reusable. Attach to feed posts via Apex or REST API: ConnectApi.FeedElement.actionLinks.
API (calls a service) / Download (downloads a file) / Url (navigates) / UI Component (Visualforce / Lightning).
Supports {!variableName} substitution at attach time.
Prompt users to confirm before action fires.
- Action Link Templates are a Chatter / Connect-API feature. Most modern Salesforce orgs use Lightning / Salesforce Anywhere features instead — Action Links are useful for legacy Chatter integrations but rarely the modern best practice.
- Templates can be referenced by Apex / Connect API but not directly from Lightning components. Surfacing Action Links in Lightning UI requires custom Visualforce or LWC bridging.
- POST / PUT actions execute as the clicking user. Risk surface — make sure the API endpoint authenticates and authorizes the user, not just trusts the Action Link.
How organizations use Action Link Templates
Built an Approve action link attached to weekly digest posts, letting managers approve dozens of pending requests in their feed without leaving Chatter.
Customer-success posts include a Track-this action link that records engagement metrics, turning Chatter announcements into measurable internal communications.
Compliance team uses action links on policy-update posts to capture user acknowledgment, producing a clean audit trail of who saw which policy when.
Trust & references
Straight from the source - Salesforce's reference material on Action Link Templates.
- Action Link TemplatesSalesforce Help
- Create Action Link TemplatesSalesforce Help
Test your knowledge
Q1. Which Salesforce Cloud is Action Link Templates most closely associated with?
Q2. Who would typically configure or interact with Action Link Templates?
Q3. What happens when Action Link Templates data is not maintained properly in Salesforce?
Discussion
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