Salesforce Flow is a powerful tool for automating business processes with minimal or no code. However, it has several limitations that might lead you to use Apex instead –
1. Complex Business Logic
Flow Limitation: Difficult or impossible to implement complex logic such as deeply nested if/else statements, recursion, or advanced calculations.
Why Choose Apex: Apex allows full control with complex branching, custom functions, loops, and data structures like maps and sets.
2. Bulk Processing and Limits
Flow Limitation: Flows can hit governor limits more easily, especially in record-triggered or large data-volume scenarios. Limited bulk processing capabilities.
Why Choose Apex: Apex can be explicitly bulkified, using collections (lists, sets, maps) and efficient SOQL/DML patterns to handle thousands of records at once.
3. Error Handling
Flow Limitation: Limited error handling options (e.g., fault paths are basic and not granular).
Why Choose Apex: Apex offers structured error handling using try/catch blocks, custom exceptions, and detailed debugging/logging.
4. Code Reusability and Modularity
Flow Limitation: Flows don’t support traditional object-oriented principles (e.g., inheritance, polymorphism).
Why Choose Apex: Apex supports reusable methods, classes, and interfaces, allowing for more maintainable and testable code.
When to Use Flow:
- Simple to moderately complex business logic
- Declarative automation with no code
- Rapid development and prototyping
- Standard record creation, updates, or approvals
When to Use Apex
- Complex logic, calculations, or data processing
- Bulk operations with performance considerations
- Custom integrations (APIs, external systems)
- Advanced error handling and transaction control
While Salesforce Flow is a powerful tool for automating processes with clicks instead of code, it does have its limitations. When business requirements demand complex logic, advanced error handling, or integration with external systems, Apex becomes the more robust and scalable solution. The key is to understand the strengths of each tool and use them where they fit best—Flow for simplicity and speed, Apex for flexibility and control.