Flow Quick Reference
A comprehensive cheat sheet for Salesforce Flow development. Use this guide for quick decisions on flow types, elements, and variables.
Flow Type Selection Decision Tree
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ WHICH FLOW TYPE SHOULD I USE? │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Need to gather user input?
├─ YES ──────────────────────────────────────────► SCREEN FLOW
│ └─ Foreground execution
│ └─ Users see and interact
│
└─ NO ─► Need multi-step, multi-user workflow?
├─ YES ─────────────────────────────────► FLOW ORCHESTRATION
│ └─ Multi-stage approvals
│ └─ Sequential user tasks
│
└─ NO ─► Record created, updated, or deleted?
├─ YES ────────────────────────► RECORD-TRIGGERED FLOW
│ │
│ ├─ Modify same record? ──► Before-Save Trigger
│ │ └─ No DML required
│ │ └─ Field updates, validation
│ │
│ └─ Modify related records? ► After-Save Trigger
│ └─ DML on other objects
│ └─ Callouts, emails
│
└─ NO ─► Run on a schedule?
├─ YES ──────────────► SCHEDULE-TRIGGERED FLOW
│ └─ Runs once/daily/weekly
│ └─ Batch processing
│
└─ NO ─► Platform Event received?
├─ YES ─────► PLATFORM EVENT-TRIGGERED
│ └─ Event-driven automation
│ └─ Async processing
│
└─ NO ──────► AUTOLAUNCHED FLOW
└─ Called from Apex/REST
└─ Called from other flows
└─ Agent actions
Flow Type Quick Reference
| Flow Type |
Trigger |
Use Case |
Execution |
| Screen Flow |
User clicks button/link |
Forms, wizards, guided processes |
Foreground |
| Record-Triggered (Before) |
Record DML (before commit) |
Same-record validation, field defaults |
Background |
| Record-Triggered (After) |
Record DML (after commit) |
Related records, callouts, emails |
Background |
| Schedule-Triggered |
Time-based (cron) |
Batch updates, cleanup, notifications |
Background |
| Platform Event-Triggered |
Platform Event published |
Event-driven processing, async work |
Background |
| Autolaunched |
Code/Flow invocation |
Subflows, Apex-called, REST API |
Background |
| Flow Orchestration |
Multi-step workflow |
Approvals, multi-user processes |
Background |
Flow Elements Reference
Logic Elements (Flow Control)
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ LOGIC ELEMENTS │
├──────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Assignment │ Set variable values; update data as flow progresses │
│ │ Example: var_Total = var_Subtotal * 1.08 │
├──────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Decision │ IF/THEN/ELSE routing; branch flow paths │
│ │ Example: If Amount > 10000 → High Priority path │
├──────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Loop │ Iterate through collections; per-record processing │
│ │ Example: For each Contact in collection... │
│ │ USE WHEN: Per-record decisions, counters, flags │
├──────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Collection Sort │ Organize collection by specified field │
│ │ Example: Sort Accounts by AnnualRevenue DESC │
├──────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Collection Filter│ Create filtered subset without new SOQL query │
│ │ Example: Filter Opps where Amount > 5000 │
│ │ TIP: Use after Get Records to reduce governor use │
├──────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Transform │ Map fields and transform collections (bulk) │
│ │ Example: Map Contact fields → Lead fields │
│ │ USE WHEN: Data mapping, bulk assignments │
│ │ 30-50% faster than Loop for field mapping │
├──────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Custom Error │ Display error message and stop flow execution │
│ │ Example: "Amount must be greater than zero" │
└──────────────────┴──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Data Elements (CRUD Operations)
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ DATA ELEMENTS │
├──────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Get Records │ Query database (SOQL equivalent) │
│ │ TIP: Use filters! Unfiltered = governor limit risk │
│ │ TIP: Can't traverse parent fields (use 2-step) │
├──────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Create Records │ Insert new records; supports collections │
│ │ Example: Create Case from Opportunity data │
├──────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Update Records │ Modify existing records │
│ │ In Before-Save: No DML needed for trigger record │
│ │ In After-Save: Use for related records │
├──────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Delete Records │ Remove records from database │
│ │ Example: Delete old cases older than 2 years │
├──────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Roll Back Records│ Undo pending changes in current transaction │
│ │ Use in fault paths for multi-step DML rollback │
└──────────────────┴──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Interaction Elements (UI & External)
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ INTERACTION ELEMENTS │
├──────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Screen │ UI canvas with standard/custom components │
│ │ Supports: Text, Input, Picklist, Checkbox, LWC │
│ │ TIP: Use Stage resource for multi-screen progress │
├──────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Action │ Call external processes │
│ │ Built-in: Send Email, Submit for Approval │
│ │ Custom: Apex @InvocableMethod │
├──────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Subflow │ Call another flow with input/output variables │
│ │ Use for: Reusable logic, modular architecture │
│ │ See: references/subflow-library.md for pre-built subflows │
├──────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Wait │ Pause flow execution until condition met │
│ │ Types: Duration, Date, Platform Event │
│ │ See: references/wait-patterns.md for XML patterns │
└──────────────────┴──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Variable Types Reference
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ FLOW RESOURCE TYPES │
├────────────────────┬────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Type │ Description & Use Case │
├────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Variable │ Mutable container for data that changes │
│ │ Types: Text, Number, Date, DateTime, Boolean, │
│ │ Currency, Record, Collection │
│ │ Naming: var_AccountName, col_Contacts, rec_Lead │
├────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Constant │ Immutable value (set once, never changes) │
│ │ Use: Fixed rates, status codes, thresholds │
│ │ Example: con_TaxRate = 0.08 │
├────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Formula │ Calculated result from variables/constants │
│ │ Example: frm_Total = var_Subtotal * (1 + con_Tax) │
├────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Text Template │ Dynamic text with variable interpolation │
│ │ Use: Email bodies, notifications, messages │
│ │ Example: "Hello {!var_FirstName}, order ready" │
├────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Choice │ Single picklist/radio option (label + value) │
│ │ Use: Screen flow input controls │
│ │ Example: { Label: "High", Value: "1" } │
├────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Collection Choice │ Options populated from existing Collection │
│ Set │ Use: Dynamic dropdown from variable data │
├────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Record Choice Set │ Options from SOQL query built into resource │
│ │ Use: Query-based selection (e.g., Account list) │
├────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Picklist Choice │ Uses standard object picklist field values │
│ Set │ Use: Industry, Stage, Status dropdowns │
├────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Stage │ Progress tracking across multiple screens │
│ │ Use: Multi-screen wizards with visual progress │
│ │ Example: Identity → Configuration → Payment │
└────────────────────┴────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Variable Naming Conventions
| Prefix |
Type |
Example |
var_ |
Single variable |
var_AccountName |
col_ |
Collection |
col_Contacts |
rec_ |
Record variable |
rec_CurrentLead |
inp_ |
Input variable |
inp_RecordId |
out_ |
Output variable |
out_ResultMessage |
con_ |
Constant |
con_MaxRetries |
frm_ |
Formula |
frm_DiscountedPrice |
Governor Limit Optimization Patterns
Pattern 1: Collection Filter vs Get Records in Loop
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ ❌ ANTI-PATTERN: Get Records Inside Loop │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Loop (Accounts)
└── Get Records (Contacts WHERE AccountId = current Account)
└── ⚠️ SOQL limit: 100 queries per transaction!
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ ✅ BEST PRACTICE: Query Once + Collection Filter │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Get Records (All Contacts for Account IDs in collection)
└── 1 SOQL query total
Loop (Accounts)
└── Collection Filter (Contacts WHERE AccountId = current)
└── In-memory filtering, no SOQL!
Pattern 2: Entry Criteria for Record-Triggered Flows
Always use Entry Criteria to limit when flows run:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Entry Criteria Examples │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Run only when Status changes: │
│ ISNEW() || ISCHANGED({!$Record.Status}) │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Run only for specific record types: │
│ {!$Record.RecordType.DeveloperName} = 'Enterprise' │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Skip during data loads (bypass pattern): │
│ {!$Setup.Flow_Bypass__c.Bypass_All__c} = FALSE │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Pattern 3: Transform vs Loop Decision
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ When to Use Transform vs Loop │
├───────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ USE TRANSFORM (30-50% faster) │ USE LOOP │
├───────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Data mapping/shaping │ Per-record IF/ELSE decisions │
│ Bulk field assignments │ Counters, flags, state tracking │
│ Simple formula calculations │ Varying business rules per record │
│ Record type conversion │ Complex conditional transformations │
└───────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────────────────┘
See: references/transform-vs-loop-guide.md for detailed decision criteria
Before-Save vs After-Save Triggers
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ BEFORE-SAVE TRIGGER │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ When: Before record is committed to database │
│ Can modify: Trigger record only ($Record) │
│ DML needed: NO (changes auto-saved with record) │
│ Use for: │
│ • Field defaulting and auto-population │
│ • Validation and Custom Errors │
│ • Same-record field calculations │
│ • Preventing record creation (throw error) │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ AFTER-SAVE TRIGGER │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ When: After record is committed (has ID) │
│ Can modify: Related/child records, external systems │
│ DML needed: YES (explicit Create/Update/Delete required) │
│ Use for: │
│ • Creating child records │
│ • Updating parent/related records │
│ • Sending emails, notifications │
│ • HTTP callouts to external systems │
│ ⚠️ CAUTION: Updating same object can cause infinite loop! │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Common Anti-Patterns to Avoid
| Anti-Pattern |
Problem |
Solution |
| DML in Loop |
Governor limit failure |
Collect records, single DML after loop |
| SOQL in Loop |
Query limit exceeded |
Query all data upfront, filter in memory |
| No fault paths |
Silent failures |
Add fault connector to all DML elements |
| No entry criteria |
Runs on every update |
Use ISCHANGED() or field conditions |
| After-Save same object |
Infinite recursion |
Add recursion check or use Before-Save |
| Hardcoded IDs |
Fails in different orgs |
Use Custom Metadata or Custom Labels |
| Unfiltered Get Records |
Too many records |
Always add filter conditions |
| Loop for field mapping |
Slower processing |
Use Transform element instead |
Quick Reference: Element Connectors
| Element |
Connector Types |
| Decision |
One per outcome + Default |
| Loop |
nextValueConnector (each item) + noMoreValuesConnector (after last) |
| Get Records |
connector (records found) + faultConnector (error) |
| Create/Update/Delete |
connector (success) + faultConnector (error) |
| Screen |
connector (next) |
| Wait |
waitEvents with connector per condition |
Testing Checklist Quick Reference
□ Path Coverage
□ All Decision outcomes tested
□ Loop with 0, 1, many records
□ Fault paths triggered
□ Bulk Testing (Record-Triggered)
□ 1 record
□ 10 records
□ 50 records
□ 200+ records (governor limit boundary)
□ User Context
□ Standard User profile
□ Admin profile
□ FLS restrictions applied
□ Edge Cases
□ Null/empty values
□ Maximum field lengths
□ Special characters
Related Documentation
Attribution
Content adapted from:
- Salesforce Ben - Flow Cheat Sheet
- Official Salesforce Documentation - Flow Builder Guide
See CREDITS.md for full attribution.
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