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PLAT-DEV-201 Exam Topics and Domains
PLAT-DEV-201 is organized into 4 weighted domains. Expect to work with Apex, Flow Builder, Lightning Web Components, Visualforce, and more.
Developer Fundamentals
Multi-Tenant Architecture and Design Frameworks
Understand multi-tenant concepts and design frameworks, such as MVC architecture and Lightning Component Framework.
Declarative vs. Programmatic Customizations
Given a scenario, identify common use cases and best practices for declarative versus programmatic customizations, including governor limits, formula fields, and roll-up summaries.
Data Modeling
Given a scenario, determine, create, and access the appropriate data model including objects, fields, relationships, and external IDs.
Agentforce for Developers
Understand use cases and limitations of using Agentforce for Developers.
Process Automation and Logic
Declarative Process Automation Features
Identify the capabilities of the declarative process automation features.
Apex Variables, Constants, Methods, and Interfaces
Understand how to declare variables, constants, methods, modifiers, Apex interfaces, and the appropriate use cases for each.
Apex Control Flow Statements
Given a scenario, assess how Apex control flow statements will execute and when to apply different control flow statements.
SOQL, SOSL, and DML
Given a scenario, write SOSL, SOQL, and DML statements in Apex, and assess what they will return.
Apex Classes and Triggers
- Given a scenario, follow best practices to write Apex classes and triggers.
- Describe the relationship between Apex transactions, the save order of execution, and the potential for recursion and/or cascading.
Governor Limits and Exception Handling
- Given a scenario, understand governor limits and their implications on Apex transactions.
- Implement exception handling in Apex, including custom exceptions as needed.
Declarative and Apex Automation Together
Given a scenario, use declarative functionality and Apex together to automate business logic.
User Interface
UI and Data Access Security
Given a scenario, prevent user interface and data access security vulnerabilities.
Custom User Interface Components
- Given a scenario, display and use custom user interface components, including Lightning components, Flow, and Visualforce.
- Describe the use cases and best practices for Lightning Web Components, including the framework, benefits, and events.
Apex with Page Components and Agentforce
Given a scenario, implement Apex to work with various types of page components, including Lightning components, Flow, and Agentforce.
Testing, Debugging, and Deployment
Writing and Executing Tests
Write and execute tests for triggers, controllers, classes, and flows using various sources of test data.
Developer Tools
Given a scenario, know how and when to use the Salesforce Developer tools such as Salesforce DX, Salesforce CLI, and Developer Console.
Debugging and Monitoring
Describe how to approach debugging system issues and monitoring flows, performance, asynchronous, and batch jobs.
Deployment
Describe the environments, requirements, and process for deploying code and associated configurations.
How do I earn this certification?
Passing PLAT-DEV-201 earns the Salesforce Certified Platform Developer I certification. It sits in the Developer track.
- Comm-Dev-101 - Salesforce Certified B2C Commerce Cloud DeveloperFull-stack development for Salesforce B2C Commerce Digital storefronts
- Plat-Admn-202 - Salesforce Certified Platform App BuilderDeclarative application building skills to complement programmatic development
- Plat-JS-Dev-201 - Salesforce Certified JavaScript Developer IAdvanced JavaScript skills for Lightning Web Components and web development on the platform
Practice with Precision
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How to study for this exam?
The most effective way to prepare for PLAT-DEV-201 is by using the PlanetCert Simulator to practice questions and review detailed explanations.
What's changed on this exam?
- ACTIVE
- Last content update: 2025 (Agentforce content added)
- Agentforce Current New exam objective added under Developer Fundamentals domain • Release date: 2024
- Lightning Web Components Current Primary UI framework tested; emphasis continues to grow over Aura • Release date: Ongoing updates each release
- Flow Builder Current Critical for declarative automation questions and understanding when code is vs. is not needed • Release date: Ongoing updates each release
Who should take this exam?
- Experience developing and deploying basic business logic and user interfaces on the Lightning Platform
- Understanding of the programmatic capabilities of the Lightning Platform
- Knowledge of Apex, Visualforce, and Lightning Web Components
- Build Applications Programmatically on the Salesforce Platform (DEX450) course