Synchronous Processes in Salesforce: A Complete Guide

Synchronous Processes in Salesforce: A Complete Guide 

What is a Synchronous Process? 

A synchronous process is one that runs in real-time, where the user or system waits for the process to complete before continuing. The request and response happen in the same thread of execution, and the outcome (success or failure) is returned immediately.

Think of it like ordering coffee and waiting at the counter until your drink is ready—you don’t move until you get what you asked for. 

Common Use Cases for Synchronous Processing 

Synchronous operations are ideal in scenarios that require immediate feedback or when the system needs to make decisions based on real-time results. Some examples include:

– Submitting a form via Lightning Web Component (LWC) and displaying a confirmation message.
– Executing a @AuraEnabled method in Apex that returns a value to the UI.
– Calling a REST API from Apex and showing the result instantly.
– Performing real-time validation before inserting or updating records.
– Running business logic directly from a trigger or controller. 

How Synchronous Apex Works 

When you invoke an Apex method from an LWC or Aura Component using the @AuraEnabled annotation, the logic runs synchronously and returns a response immediately.

Example:

@AuraEnabled
public static Account createAccount(String accName) {
    Account acc = new Account(Name = accName);
    insert acc;
    return acc;
}

In this example:
– The createAccount method inserts a new Account.
– The result is returned directly to the calling component.
– Any error (like missing required fields) will halt execution and return an error to the user immediately. 

Governor Limits in Synchronous Apex 

Salesforce imposes certain governor limits to ensure fair resource usage. Synchronous processes have stricter limits compared to asynchronous ones.

| Resource                           | Synchronous Limit | Asynchronous Limit |

| CPU Time Limit               | 10,000 ms                  | 60,000 ms                    |
| SOQL Queries                   | 100                              | 200                                 |
| DML Statements              | 150                              | 150                                 |
| Maximum Callout Time | 10 seconds                | 120 seconds                |

Be cautious when writing heavy synchronous logic, especially in triggers or chained controller methods, as you can hit these limits quickly. 

Challenges and Considerations 

While synchronous processing is great for user-driven, real-time operations, it comes with some potential downsides:

– User Experience: Long-running synchronous tasks can delay the UI and cause timeouts.
– Callout Time Limit: You can only wait up to 10 seconds for an HTTP callout in a synchronous context.
– Governor Limits: You have less breathing room for CPU and SOQL usage.
– Error Handling: Any error in the chain causes the entire transaction to fail instantly. 

Real-World Examples of Synchronous Use 

1. Lightning Button Action:
   – Clicking a “Submit” button in a Lightning Web Component that calls an Apex method and displays success/failure instantly.

   2. Validation Before Save:
      – Making an external API call to check for duplicate entries before creating a Contact record.

   3. Trigger Execution:
      – A before insert or after update trigger that performs field calculations and throws an error if validation fails. 

Synchronous vs Asynchronous: A Quick Comparison 

| Feature                        | Synchronous                                       | Asynchronous                     |

| Execution Timing     | Immediate                                            | Queued for later                 |
| Response                    | Instant result                                        | No immediate result              |
| User Experience       | Blocking (wait for response)           | Non-blocking (background)        |
| Ideal For                     | UI interactions, small operations    | Heavy logic, long-running tasks  |
| Examples                    | LWC Apex call, Triggers                     | Queueable, Future, Batch Apex    | 

Best Practices for Synchronous Processing 

– Keep synchronous logic lightweight and fast.
– Use try-catch blocks for better error handling.
– Avoid complex operations in triggers; offload to asynchronous methods if needed.
– Always monitor and optimize SOQL/DML usage to stay within limits.
– Consider user experience—use spinners or loaders if there’s a slight wait. 

Final Thoughts 

Synchronous processing plays a critical role in Salesforce application development, especially for real-time user interactions and instant data processing. However, developers must be mindful of governor limits, execution time, and system scalability.

When used appropriately, synchronous processes enhance the user experience and ensure seamless, immediate operations. For more complex or time-consuming tasks, consider offloading to asynchronous methods like Queueable or Batch Apex.

Have questions or want a deep dive into asynchronous Apex, trigger best practices, or Lightning Web Component performance tips? Let me know in the comments or reach out!