Trigger Framework in Salesforce

Salesforce Triggers are very powerful. But if we write triggers without planning, the code becomes hard to manage, hard to debug, and risky in production.

That’s why we use a Trigger Framework.

A Trigger Framework helps us write clean, structured, and reusable trigger code.

What Is a Trigger Framework?

A Trigger Framework is a standard way of writing Salesforce triggers.

Instead of putting all logic inside the trigger:

The trigger only decides when to run
The real logic is written in Apex classes

👉 Think of the trigger as a switch, and the Apex class as the machine.

Why Do We Need a Trigger Framework?

Without a framework:

Code becomes messy
Same logic runs again and again
Debugging becomes difficult
Triggers fail in bulk data load
Governor limits are hit easily

With a framework:

Code is clean and readable
Easy to add new logic
Easy to test
Easy to control execution

Benefits of Trigger Framework

✔ Only one trigger per object
✔ No business logic inside trigger
✔ Bulk-safe code
✔ Easy debugging
✔ Prevents recursion (infinite loop)
✔ Easy maintenance

Important Rules of Trigger Framework

1. One Trigger Per Object

Always create only one trigger on each object.

Example:

Account → 1 trigger
Case → 1 trigger

2. Keep Trigger Simple

Trigger should:

Check the trigger event (before/after)
Call a handler class

❌ Logic in trigger
✅ Logic in Apex class

3. Separate Logic by Context

Different methods for:

Before Insert
Before Update
After Insert
After Update
Delete events

This makes code easy to read and manage.

4. Always Write Bulk-Safe Code

Triggers run on:

1 record
OR 200 records

So always:

Use lists and maps
Avoid SOQL/DML inside loops

5. Handle Recursion

Sometimes trigger runs again and again because of updates.

Use static variables to stop infinite loops.

Simple Trigger Framework Example

Step 1: Trigger (Very Simple)

Step 2: Trigger Handler Class

public class AccountTriggerHandler {

public static void run() {

if (Trigger.isBefore) {

if (Trigger.isInsert) beforeInsert();

            if (Trigger.isUpdate) beforeUpdate();

}

if (Trigger.isAfter) {

            if (Trigger.isInsert) afterInsert();

            if (Trigger.isUpdate) afterUpdate();

private static void beforeInsert() {

for (Account acc : Trigger.new) {

if (acc.Industry == null) {

acc.Industry = 'Technology';

}

private static void afterUpdate() {

// After update logic

}

Why Use Handler Class?

Because:

Code is reusable
Logic is easy to change
Trigger stays clean
Testing becomes easy

Prevent Trigger from Running Again (Recursion Control)

Use it like this:

Disable Trigger When Needed

Useful during:

Data migration
Data loader
Integration

In trigger:

Trigger Framework vs Flow (Simple)

When to Use	Trigger	Flow
Simple logic	❌	✅
Complex logic	✅	❌
Large data	✅	⚠️
Integration	✅	❌

👉 Best practice: Use Flow first, Trigger when needed

Common Mistakes

❌ Writing logic in trigger
❌ Multiple triggers on same object
❌ SOQL inside loop
❌ No recursion control
❌ No test class

When Should You Use Trigger Framework?

You should use it when:

Project is big
Multiple developers work together
Data volume is high
Code must be long-term safe

Final Words

A Trigger Framework:

Makes your code clean
Saves time in future
Helps in interviews
Is required in real projects

If you want to grow as a Salesforce Developer or Architect, learning Trigger Framework is very important.