Quick guide to choosing between SOQL and SOSL in Salesforce. Understand differences, use-cases, code examples, and best practices for admins and developers.
What are SOQL and SOSL?
SOQL (Salesforce Object Query Language) and SOSL (Salesforce Object Search Language) are Salesforce-specific query languages used to retrieve data. SOQL is similar to SQL and focuses on structured queries against one or related objects. SOSL is a full-text search language optimized for keyword searches across multiple objects and fields.
Key differences
- Scope: SOQL queries specific fields in specific objects; SOSL searches across many fields and objects.
- Use case: SOQL for structured retrieval (filters, sorting, aggregations); SOSL for text/keyword searches when you don’t know which object/field contains the text.
- Result format: SOQL returns a list of SObjects with the requested fields; SOSL returns a list of lists of SObjects grouped by object type.
- Aggregations: Supported in SOQL (COUNT, SUM, AVG); not supported in SOSL.
When to use SOQL
Choose SOQL when you need precise, structured data retrieval—especially when querying a single object or related objects using relationship queries, applying filters, ordering results, or performing aggregations.
- Retrieving related records via relationship queries
- Applying WHERE conditions and ORDER BY
- Using aggregate functions
When to use SOSL
Use SOSL for fast keyword searches across multiple objects and fields—ideal when users search for terms and you don’t know where the data resides (Account name, Contact notes, Case comments, etc.).
- Global search boxes and quick lookup interfaces
- Finding text fragments, partial words, or phone/email matches
- When you need results from multiple object types in one call
Examples
Simple SOQL example:
List<Account> accounts = [SELECT Id, Name FROM Account WHERE Industry = 'Tech' ORDER BY Name];
Simple SOSL example:
List<List<SObject>> searchResults = [FIND 'tech*' IN ALL FIELDS RETURNING Account(Id, Name), Contact(Id, FirstName, LastName)];
Best practices
- Use SOQL when you need specific fields and relationships; use SOSL for broad text searches.
- Avoid unnecessary SOQL queries in loops—bulkify and use collections.
- Limit returned fields to what you need to reduce CPU and heap usage.
- Use proper indexing and selective filters to improve SOQL performance.
- Test SOSL behavior with wildcard searches and large datasets to understand result relevance.
Conclusion — Why this matters
Choosing the right query language in Salesforce affects performance, developer productivity, and user experience. SOQL gives precise control for structured queries and aggregations, while SOSL provides powerful, cross-object text search capabilities. For admins and developers, understanding these differences helps design faster reports, efficient Apex code, and better search-driven interfaces.
Category: Salesforce Tips