Apex HTTP Callouts

Introduction to Apex HTTP Callouts

Apex HTTP Callouts allow Salesforce developers to integrate with external web services using HTTP requests. These callouts are essential for interacting with RESTful web services and other external APIs. The Apex Http class provides methods to initiate and handle HTTP requests and responses.

Setting Up HTTP Callouts in Apex

Before making HTTP callouts in Apex, you need to configure remote site settings in Salesforce. This ensures that your Salesforce org can communicate with the desired external service. Without this configuration, callouts will fail due to security restrictions.

Creating an HTTP Request

To create an HTTP request, instantiate the HttpRequest class and set its properties, such as the endpoint URL, HTTP method, headers, and body. Below is an example of how to set up a basic GET request:

Sending the HTTP Request

Once the request is configured, use the Http class to send the request and receive a response. The response can then be processed to extract the desired information.

Handling HTTP Responses

The HttpResponse object contains the status code, status message, and the response body. You can use these properties to handle different types of responses from the server and perform actions based on the response data.

Best Practices for HTTP Callouts

• Timeout Management: Always set a timeout for your HTTP requests to prevent hanging requests.
• Error Handling: Implement error handling to gracefully manage failed callouts.
• Governor Limits: Be aware of Salesforce governor limits related to HTTP callouts, such as the number of callouts per transaction.