Definition
In Salesforce development, the architectural style used by the Salesforce REST API that enables CRUD operations on Salesforce data using standard HTTP methods (GET, POST, PATCH, DELETE) with JSON or XML payloads.
Real-World Example
When a developer at Quantum Labs needs to streamline operations, they turn to REST (Representational State Transfer) to build a custom solution that extends the platform beyond its standard capabilities. They write clean, bulkified code for REST (Representational State Transfer), add comprehensive test coverage, and deploy it through a CI/CD pipeline. The new functionality handles 10,000 records without hitting governor limits.
Why REST (Representational State Transfer) Matters
In Salesforce development, REST is the architectural style used by the Salesforce REST API that enables CRUD operations on Salesforce data using standard HTTP methods (GET, POST, PATCH, DELETE) with JSON or XML payloads. REST (Representational State Transfer) was introduced by Roy Fielding in his 2000 dissertation and has since become the dominant style for web APIs.
Compared to older approaches like SOAP, REST is simpler, more lightweight, and better suited to modern web and mobile applications. Salesforce offers both REST and SOAP APIs for backward compatibility, but most new integrations use REST. Mature Salesforce integration uses REST for everything where possible, reserving SOAP only for legacy scenarios or specific features that require it.
How Organizations Use REST (Representational State Transfer)
- •TerraForm Tech — Uses Salesforce REST API for all their modern integrations, reserving SOAP for specific legacy needs.
- •Quantum Labs — Built their mobile apps on REST API for lightweight, efficient communication with Salesforce.
- •CodeBridge — Trains developers on REST principles as foundational to modern Salesforce integration.