Salesforce Certified Platform Developer I Study Guide (2026)

Salesforce Certified Platform Developer I Study Guide 2026 – Pass on Your First Attempt

This Salesforce Certified Platform Developer I study guide covers all exam domains, key concepts, and real exam-style scenarios to help you pass on your first attempt. Learn what topics matter most, avoid common mistakes, and follow a structured plan based on the official exam blueprint.

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What should you study for the Salesforce Certified Platform Developer I exam?

To pass the Salesforce Certified Platform Developer I certification exam, you should focus on:

  • Salesforce Fundamentals and Data Model: Covers the Salesforce platform architecture, object model (standard and custom objects), relationships, fields, schema, and the record sharing model.
  • Working with Data in Apex (SOQL and SOSL): Covers querying and manipulating Salesforce data using SOQL and SOSL, DML operations, and governor limit best practices.
  • Apex (Core Programming): Covers Apex syntax, collections, control flow, classes, interfaces, triggers, exception handling, and governor limits.
  • Lightning Web Components (LWC): Covers the LWC programming model, component communication, lifecycle hooks, and integration with Apex.
  • Testing: Covers Apex test classes, test data creation, assert methods, and the minimum test coverage requirements for deployment.
  • Visualforce: Covers Visualforce page and component development, standard and custom controllers, and extensions.
  • Declarative Tools: Covers Salesforce Flow, Process Builder (legacy), approval processes, and when to use declarative vs programmatic solutions.
  • Debugging and Deployment: Covers debugging Apex using logs and the Developer Console, and deploying metadata between Salesforce orgs.

The exam tests your ability to apply concepts in real scenarios, not just memorize definitions.

Salesforce Certified Platform Developer I Exam Syllabus and Topics

The Salesforce Certified Platform Developer I exam is divided into 8 domains. Each domain tests specific skills and contributes to your overall score.

Salesforce Fundamentals and Data Model

Covers the Salesforce platform architecture, object model (standard and custom objects), relationships, fields, schema, and the record sharing model.

23%
Weight
14
Questions
14
Marks

Salesforce Platform Architecture

  • Multi-tenant architecture
  • Platform limits and governor limits
  • Metadata-driven development
  • AppExchange overview

Data Model

  • Standard objects (Account, Contact, Opportunity, Lead, Case)
  • Custom objects and fields
  • Relationship types (Lookup, Master-Detail, Many-to-Many via junction objects)
  • Schema Builder
  • Field types and validation rules

Security and Sharing Model

  • Organization-wide defaults (OWD)
  • Role hierarchy
  • Profiles and permission sets
  • Sharing rules
  • Record-level and field-level security

Working with Data in Apex (SOQL and SOSL)

Covers querying and manipulating Salesforce data using SOQL and SOSL, DML operations, and governor limit best practices.

18%
Weight
11
Questions
11
Marks

SOQL (Salesforce Object Query Language)

  • Basic SELECT syntax
  • Filtering (WHERE, LIKE, IN)
  • Aggregate functions (COUNT, SUM, AVG)
  • Relationship queries (parent-to-child, child-to-parent)
  • Bind variables
  • SOQL for loops

SOSL (Salesforce Object Search Language)

  • FIND syntax
  • Searching across multiple objects
  • SOQL vs SOSL use cases

DML Operations

  • Insert, update, upsert, delete, undelete
  • Database class methods (Database.insert with partial success)
  • DML governor limits
  • Avoiding SOQL and DML inside loops

Apex (Core Programming)

Covers Apex syntax, collections, control flow, classes, interfaces, triggers, exception handling, and governor limits.

17%
Weight
10
Questions
10
Marks

Apex Basics

  • Data types and variables
  • Collections (List, Set, Map)
  • Control flow (if/else, for, while, do-while)
  • String handling

Classes and OOP

  • Class structure, access modifiers
  • Inheritance and interfaces
  • Static vs instance methods
  • Inner classes
  • Abstract and virtual classes

Apex Triggers

  • Trigger syntax and context variables
  • Before and after triggers
  • Trigger best practices (one trigger per object, handler pattern)
  • Trigger order of execution

Asynchronous Apex

  • Future methods (@future)
  • Batch Apex (Database.Batchable)
  • Queueable Apex
  • Scheduled Apex
  • Platform Events

Lightning Web Components (LWC)

Covers the LWC programming model, component communication, lifecycle hooks, and integration with Apex.

10%
Weight
6
Questions
6
Marks

LWC Fundamentals

  • LWC file structure (HTML, JS, CSS, meta.xml)
  • Data binding (@track, @api, @wire)
  • Lifecycle hooks (connectedCallback, renderedCallback)
  • Event handling (dispatching and receiving events)

LWC and Apex Integration

  • @wire decorator for Apex calls
  • Imperative Apex calls
  • Error handling in LWC
  • LWC security (LockerService)

Testing

Covers Apex test classes, test data creation, assert methods, and the minimum test coverage requirements for deployment.

9%
Weight
5
Questions
5
Marks

Writing Test Classes

  • @isTest annotation
  • Test.startTest() and Test.stopTest()
  • Creating test data (Test.loadData, TestDataFactory pattern)
  • System.assert, System.assertEquals, System.assertNotEquals

Test Coverage and Deployment

  • 75% code coverage requirement for production deployment
  • What counts as coverage
  • Test isolation and SeeAllData=false
  • Testing asynchronous Apex

Visualforce

Covers Visualforce page and component development, standard and custom controllers, and extensions.

8%
Weight
5
Questions
5
Marks

Visualforce Pages and Controllers

  • Visualforce tag syntax (<apex:page>, <apex:form>, <apex:inputField>)
  • Standard controller (standardController)
  • Custom controllers and controller extensions
  • View state and its limitations

Visualforce Best Practices

  • Reducing view state size
  • Using with sharing in controllers
  • Visualforce security considerations

Declarative Tools

Covers Salesforce Flow, Process Builder (legacy), approval processes, and when to use declarative vs programmatic solutions.

8%
Weight
5
Questions
5
Marks

Salesforce Flow

  • Screen Flows, Record-Triggered Flows, Auto-Launched Flows
  • Flow elements (Assignment, Decision, Loop, Create Records, Update Records)
  • Flow variables and formulas
  • Calling Apex from Flow

Approval Processes

  • Approval process steps and actions
  • Approval entry criteria
  • Automated approval routing

Debugging and Deployment

Covers debugging Apex using logs and the Developer Console, and deploying metadata between Salesforce orgs.

7%
Weight
4
Questions
4
Marks

Debugging

  • Debug Log levels and categories
  • Developer Console features
  • System.debug() usage
  • Checkpoint inspector

Deployment

  • Change Sets
  • Salesforce CLI (sf) and SFDX commands
  • Metadata API
  • Deployment validation vs deployment
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Learning Progress

Salesforce Fundamentals and Data Model 85%
Working with Data in Apex (SOQL and SOSL) 92%

Practice Test Scores

95%
Latest Score
Above passing threshold

Frequently Asked Questions