Salesforce Platform Developer Practice Exam

How does SOSL differ from SOQL?

1. SOSL can query multiple objects, SOQL cannot

2. SOQL can search across multiple objects, SOSL cannot

3. SOSL is used only for text fields

4. SOQL is faster than SOSL

The correct answer is: SOSL can query multiple objects, SOQL cannot

SOSL (Salesforce Object Search Language) is specifically designed to perform text searches across multiple objects within the Salesforce platform. It allows users to search for information in text, email, and other searchable fields across standard and custom objects, enabling the retrieval of data from various sources in a single query. This is particularly useful when you're unsure of the exact object where the information might reside or when you want to get a broader view of information related to a specific search term across multiple objects. In contrast, SOQL (Salesforce Object Query Language) is structured to query data from a specific object or a related set of objects, focusing on retrieving records and their fields based on specified criteria. While SOQL is powerful for deep data analysis and allows relationships between objects for more focused queries, it does not have the ability to search multiple objects in one query like SOSL does. The choice stating that SOSL can query multiple objects while SOQL cannot accurately highlights the primary functionality of SOSL in regards to searching capabilities across various Salesforce objects. This distinguishes SOSL as the preferred choice for broader search requirements, emphasizing its unique utility in diverse querying scenarios.