Visualforce Developer Guide

Introducing Visualforce
Tools for Visualforce Development
Getting a Quick Start with Visualforce
Customizing the Appearance and Output of Visualforce Pages
Standard Controllers
Standard List Controllers
Custom Controllers and Controller Extensions
Advanced Examples
Override Buttons, Links, and Tabs with Visualforce
Using Static Resources
Creating and Using Custom Components
Dynamic Visualforce Bindings
Dynamic Visualforce Components
Integrate Email with Visualforce
Visualforce Charting
Creating Maps with Visualforce
Render Flows with Visualforce
Templating with Visualforce
Developing Salesforce Apps with Visualforce
Adding Visualforce to a Salesforce AppExchange App
Using JavaScript in Visualforce Pages
Using $Component to Reference Components from JavaScript
Using JavaScript Libraries with Visualforce
JavaScript Remoting for Apex Controllers
What Is JavaScript Remoting?
When to Use JavaScript Remoting
Comparing JavaScript Remoting and <apex:actionFunction>
Comparing JavaScript Remoting and Remote Objects
Adding JavaScript Remoting to a Visualforce Page
Declaring a Remote Method in Apex
Handling the Remote Response
Debugging JavaScript Remoting
JavaScript Remoting Limits and Considerations
JavaScript Remoting Example
Common Visualforce JavaScript Remoting API Validation Errors
Visualforce Remote Objects
Communicating Across the DOM with Lightning Message Service
Visualforce Best Practices
Standard Visualforce Component Reference
Appendices
PDF

Note: This release is in preview. Features described here don’t become generally available until the latest general availability date that Salesforce announces for this release. Before then, and where features are noted as beta, pilot, or developer preview, we can’t guarantee general availability within any particular time frame or at all. Make your purchase decisions only on the basis of generally available products and features.

Comparing JavaScript Remoting and <apex:actionFunction>

The <apex:actionFunction> component also lets you call controller action methods through JavaScript.

In general, <apex:actionFunction> is easier to use and requires less code, while JavaScript remoting offers more flexibility.

Here are some specific differences between the two.
  • The <apex:actionFunction> tag:
    • lets you specify rerender targets
    • submits the form
    • doesn’t require you to write any JavaScript
  • JavaScript remoting:
    • lets you pass parameters
    • provides a callback
    • requires you to write some JavaScript