Salesforce Platform Developer Practice Exam

Which of the following actions cannot be performed using a workflow rule?

1. Field Update

2. Send Alert

3. Create a Task

4. Invoke an Apex class

The correct answer is: Invoke an Apex class

Workflow rules are a powerful feature within Salesforce that enable the automatic execution of certain actions when specified criteria are met. Among the various actions that can be performed by workflow rules, field updates, sending alerts, and creating tasks are all supported functionalities. A field update allows you to automatically change the value of a field in a record whenever the rule conditions are met. This is useful for maintaining data integrity and ensuring that information stays current without requiring user intervention. Sending alerts is another common action that can be configured in a workflow rule. Alerts can be sent via email to users or other recipients, facilitating timely communication regarding important changes or updates to records. Creating a task is also an action supported by workflow rules. When a specific condition is satisfied, a task can be generated, enabling users to follow up or take further actions as needed. However, invoking an Apex class is not an action that can be performed using a workflow rule. Workflow rules are designed to execute predefined actions without complex logic or custom coding, while invoking an Apex class typically involves custom logic that exceeds the capabilities of standard workflow rules. For executing complex business logic or custom behavior, asynchronous processes such as triggers, or more advanced tools like Process Builder or Flow, should be utilized, as they can call Apex