Force.com Apex Code Developer's Guide

Getting Started
Writing Apex
Ways to Invoke Apex
Invoking Apex
Anonymous Blocks
Triggers
Asynchronous Apex
Future Methods
Future Methods with Higher Limits (Pilot)
Queueable Apex
Apex Scheduler
Batch Apex
Web Services
Apex Email Service
Visualforce Classes
Invoking Apex Using JavaScript
Apex Transactions and Governor Limits
Using Salesforce Features with Apex
Integration and Apex Utilities
Finishing Touches
Reference
Appendices
Glossary
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Asynchronous Apex

Apex offers multiple ways for running your Apex code asynchronously. Choose the asynchronous Apex feature that best suits your needs.

This table lists the asynchronous Apex features and when to use each.

Asynchronous Apex Feature When to Use
Future Methods
  • When you have a long-running method and need to prevent delaying an Apex transaction
  • When you make callouts to external Web services
  • To segregate DML operations and bypass the mixed save DML error
Queueable Apex
  • To start a long-running operation and get an ID for it
  • To pass complex types to a job
  • To chain jobs
Batch Apex
  • For long-running jobs with large data volumes that need to be performed in batches, such as database maintenance jobs
  • For jobs that need larger query results than regular transactions allow
Scheduled Apex
  • To schedule an Apex class to run on a specific schedule