Agentforce Apex Actions — @InvocableMethod Guide 2026

Agentforce Course — Module 9: Apex Actions | sfinterviewpro.com

🤖 Free Agentforce Course 2026 — sfinterviewpro.com

⚙️ Module 9 of 15

Apex Actions —
Full Developer Power for Your Agent

Write @InvocableMethod Apex classes your agent calls directly. Complex SOQL with multiple objects, aggregate queries, and business logic that Flow can't handle. Your XYZ Sales Assistant becomes a true developer-grade AI agent.

Apex Actions Built

Complex

SOQL Queries

Test

Classes Included

100%

Practical Code

📍 Course Progress — Module 9 of 15

✅Agentforce

✅Trust Layer

✅Dev Org

✅Agent Builder

✅TIA

✅Prompt Builder

✅Std Actions

✅Flow Actions

M9Apex Actions

M10API Actions

M11Data Cloud

M12Deploy

M13Escalation

M14Testing

M15Full Project

🎯 What You Build in This Module

Two production-quality Apex Actions: 1) Get Account with Opportunities — complex SOQL joining Account + Opportunities, returns formatted pipeline. 2) Get Pipeline Summary — aggregate SOQL counting and summing deals by stage. Both connected to XYZ Sales Assistant and tested live!

⚙️

1. What Are Apex Actions?

@InvocableMethod — the bridge between AI agent and Apex power

Apex Actions are Apex methods annotated with @InvocableMethod that agents can call directly. They give agents access to the full power of Apex: complex multi-object SOQL, aggregate queries, external callouts, business logic too complex for Flow. When Standard Actions and Flow Actions can't handle the requirement — Apex Actions can.

Capability	Standard Actions	Flow Actions	Apex Actions
Complex SOQL (joins, aggregates)	❌	Limited	✅ Full power
External HTTP callouts	❌	❌	✅ Yes (callout=true)
Business logic complexity	❌	Medium	✅ Unlimited
Multi-object relationships in one query	❌	Limited	✅ Full SOQL
SOQL aggregate functions (COUNT, SUM)	❌	❌	✅ Yes
Code required	None	None	Yes — Apex developer
Test class required	No	No	Yes — 75%+ coverage

💡 When to Use Apex Actions

✅ Complex SOQL with multiple related objects (Account + Opportunities + Contacts in one query)
✅ Aggregate queries (COUNT, SUM, AVG by stage, region, industry)
✅ External HTTP callouts to ERP, payment systems, external APIs
✅ Business logic requiring loops, collections, complex conditions
✅ Any operation Flow Builder can't express cleanly

❌ Don't use for simple CRUD — use Standard Actions instead. Apex = last resort for complexity.

🔬

2. Anatomy of an Apex Action — Every Annotation Explained

Master the structure before writing your first action

public with sharing class MyApexAction {

    // ① Inner class for INPUT — what agent sends to Apex
    public class ActionInput {
        @InvocableVariable(label='Account Name' description='Name of the account to search' required=true)
        public String accountName;

        @InvocableVariable(label='Max Results' description='Maximum number of results to return' required=false)
        public Integer maxResults;
    }

    // ② Inner class for OUTPUT — what Apex sends back to agent
    public class ActionOutput {
        @InvocableVariable(label='Result' description='Formatted result for agent to show user')
        public String result;

        @InvocableVariable(label='Success' description='True if action succeeded, false if error')
        public Boolean success;
    }

    // ③ The @InvocableMethod — what agent calls
    @InvocableMethod(
        label='My Action Label'           // ← Shows in Agent Builder action picker
        description='What this action does and when to use it'  // ← AI reads this to decide when to call
        callout=false                     // ← Set true if method makes HTTP callouts
    )
    public static List<ActionOutput> execute(List<ActionInput> inputs) {
        List<ActionOutput> results = new List<ActionOutput>();

        for(ActionInput input : inputs) {
            ActionOutput output = new ActionOutput();
            try {
                // ④ Your business logic here
                output.result = doSomething(input.accountName);
                output.success = true;
            } catch(Exception e) {
                output.result = 'Error: ' + e.getMessage();
                output.success = false;
            }
            results.add(output);
        }
        return results;
    }
}

📋 Every Annotation — What It Does

@InvocableMethod

Marks the method as callable by agents, Flows, and Process Builder. Must be public static. Must accept List<InputClass> and return List<OutputClass>.

label=

The display name in Agent Builder's action picker. Make it clear and descriptive — this is what developers see when adding the action.

description=

Most critical field. The AI reads this description to decide WHEN to call this action. Write it like you're telling the AI: "Call this when user asks about..."

callout=true

Required if the method makes HTTP callouts. Default is false. If your action calls an external API, set callout=true or it will fail at runtime.

@InvocableVariable

Marks a field in Input/Output class as visible to the agent. Fields WITHOUT this annotation are invisible. required=true = agent must provide this value.

with sharing

Always use with sharing — enforces Salesforce sharing rules. Never use without sharing for agent actions — security violation.

⚡ The Golden Rules of @InvocableMethod

1. Must be public static — not instance method
2. Must accept List<YourInputClass> — even if only one record processed
3. Must return List<YourOutputClass> — always a list
4. Only one @InvocableMethod per class — one class = one agent action
5. Input/Output classes must be inner classes — not separate top-level classes
6. Always with sharing — never bypass security

🏢

3. Build Apex Action 1 — Get Account with Opportunities

Complex SOQL joining Account + child Opportunities in one query

This action fetches a complete Account profile WITH its related Opportunities in a single SOQL query. It formats everything into a clean text response the agent shows to the sales rep. Standard Actions can't do this — they can only query one object at a time.

Create the Apex Class — GetAccountWithOpportunities

Setup → Apex Classes → New → Paste the code below

Go to Setup → Quick Find: "Apex Classes" → Click New

Delete the default code and paste this complete class:

/**
 * Apex Action 1: Get Account with Opportunities
 * XYZ Sales Assistant — Module 9, Agentforce Course
 * Returns Account details + related Opportunities in formatted text
 */
public with sharing class GetAccountWithOpportunities {

    // ═══ INPUT CLASS ═══
    public class AccountInput {
        @InvocableVariable(
            label='Account Name'
            description='Name or partial name of the Account to search for'
            required=true
        )
        public String accountName;

        @InvocableVariable(
            label='Include Closed'
            description='Set to true to include Closed Won/Lost opportunities. Default false shows only open deals.'
            required=false
        )
        public Boolean includeClosed;
    }

    // ═══ OUTPUT CLASS ═══
    public class AccountOutput {
        @InvocableVariable(label='Account Summary')
        public String accountSummary;

        @InvocableVariable(label='Opportunities Summary')
        public String opportunitiesSummary;

        @InvocableVariable(label='Full Result')
        public String fullResult;

        @InvocableVariable(label='Success')
        public Boolean success;

        @InvocableVariable(label='Error Message')
        public String errorMessage;
    }

    // ═══ @INVOCABLE METHOD ═══
    @InvocableMethod(
        label='Get Account with Opportunities'
        description='Retrieves complete Account profile with related Opportunities. Use when user asks for full account details, pipeline for a company, or wants to know everything about a customer account.'
        callout=false
    )
    public static List<AccountOutput> execute(List<AccountInput> inputs) {
        List<AccountOutput> results = new List<AccountOutput>();

        for(AccountInput inp : inputs) {
            AccountOutput output = new AccountOutput();
            try {
                Boolean showClosed = (inp.includeClosed != null && inp.includeClosed);

                // Complex SOQL: Account WITH related Opportunities
                List<Account> accounts = [
                    SELECT Id, Name, Industry, Phone,
                           BillingCity, BillingState, BillingCountry,
                           AnnualRevenue, NumberOfEmployees, Type, Description,
                           (SELECT Id, Name, StageName, Amount, CloseDate,
                                   Probability, Description
                            FROM Opportunities
                            WHERE IsClosed = :(!showClosed)
                            ORDER BY CloseDate ASC
                            LIMIT 10)
                    FROM Account
                    WHERE Name LIKE :('%' + inp.accountName + '%')
                    WITH SECURITY_ENFORCED
                    LIMIT 1
                ];

                if(accounts.isEmpty()) {
                    output.success = false;
                    output.errorMessage = 'No account found matching: ' + inp.accountName;
                    output.fullResult = '❌ ' + output.errorMessage;
                    results.add(output);
                    continue;
                }

                Account acc = accounts[0];

                // Format Account Summary
                output.accountSummary =
                    '🏢 ACCOUNT: ' + acc.Name + '\n' +
                    '• Industry: ' + (acc.Industry != null ? acc.Industry : 'Not specified') + '\n' +
                    '• Type: ' + (acc.Type != null ? acc.Type : 'Not specified') + '\n' +
                    '• Location: ' + formatLocation(acc) + '\n' +
                    '• Phone: ' + (acc.Phone != null ? acc.Phone : 'Not on file') + '\n' +
                    '• Employees: ' + (acc.NumberOfEmployees != null ? String.valueOf(acc.NumberOfEmployees) : 'Unknown') + '\n' +
                    '• Annual Revenue: ' + formatCurrency(acc.AnnualRevenue);

                if(acc.Description != null) {
                    output.accountSummary += '\n• Notes: ' + acc.Description;
                }

                // Format Opportunities Summary
                if(acc.Opportunities.isEmpty()) {
                    output.opportunitiesSummary = showClosed
                        ? '📋 No opportunities found for this account.'
                        : '📋 No open opportunities. (Use includeClosed=true to see all deals)';
                } else {
                    String oppText = showClosed
                        ? '📋 ALL OPPORTUNITIES (' + acc.Opportunities.size() + '):\n'
                        : '📋 OPEN OPPORTUNITIES (' + acc.Opportunities.size() + '):\n';

                    for(Opportunity opp : acc.Opportunities) {
                        oppText += '\n▸ ' + opp.Name + '\n' +
                            '  Stage: ' + opp.StageName +
                            ' | Amount: ' + formatCurrency(opp.Amount) +
                            ' | Close: ' + (opp.CloseDate != null ? opp.CloseDate.format() : 'TBD') +
                            ' | Probability: ' + (opp.Probability != null ? String.valueOf(opp.Probability.intValue()) + '%' : '—');
                    }
                    output.opportunitiesSummary = oppText;
                }

                // Combine into full result
                output.fullResult = output.accountSummary + '\n\n' + output.opportunitiesSummary;
                output.success = true;

            } catch(Exception e) {
                output.success = false;
                output.errorMessage = e.getMessage();
                output.fullResult = '❌ Error retrieving account: ' + e.getMessage();
            }
            results.add(output);
        }
        return results;
    }

    // ═══ HELPER METHODS ═══
    private static String formatLocation(Account acc) {
        List<String> parts = new List<String>();
        if(acc.BillingCity != null) parts.add(acc.BillingCity);
        if(acc.BillingState != null) parts.add(acc.BillingState);
        if(acc.BillingCountry != null) parts.add(acc.BillingCountry);
        return parts.isEmpty() ? 'Not on file' : String.join(parts, ', ');
    }

    private static String formatCurrency(Decimal amount) {
        if(amount == null) return 'Not specified';
        // Format as Indian Rupees with lakhs/crores notation
        if(amount >= 10000000) {
            return '₹' + (amount / 10000000).setScale(2) + ' Cr';
        } else if(amount >= 100000) {
            return '₹' + (amount / 100000).setScale(2) + ' L';
        } else {
            return '₹' + String.valueOf(amount.longValue());
        }
    }
}

Click Save — if there are compile errors, fix them before proceeding

Setup → Apex Classes → New → Paste code → Save

📸 After Saving — What You Should See

Apex Classes page shows "GetAccountWithOpportunities" in the list with Status: Active. No compile errors. If you see errors — check for missing semicolons, unclosed brackets, or incorrect API names.

Common error: "Variable does not exist: IsClosed" — change IsClosed = :(!showClosed) to use a Boolean variable declared before the query.

✅ What This Code Does

Line by line:
1. Accepts accountName (required) + includeClosed (optional) from agent
2. Runs complex SOQL: Account WHERE Name LIKE '%searchTerm%' WITH child Opportunities subquery
3. WITH SECURITY_ENFORCED — respects FLS and sharing rules (security!)
4. Formats Account data into readable text with ₹ INR formatting
5. Formats each Opportunity: Name | Stage | Amount | Close Date | Probability
6. Returns fullResult (combined) + success flag + errorMessage

Write Test Class for Apex Action 1

Required — 75%+ coverage needed for deployment

Setup → Apex Classes → New → Create test class:

@isTest
public class GetAccountWithOpportunitiesTest {

    @TestSetup
    static void makeData() {
        // Create test Account
        Account acc = new Account(
            Name = 'Test Pharma Company',
            Industry = 'Healthcare',
            Phone = '+91-22-12345678',
            BillingCity = 'Mumbai',
            BillingCountry = 'India',
            AnnualRevenue = 5000000,
            NumberOfEmployees = 100
        );
        insert acc;

        // Create test Opportunities
        List<Opportunity> opps = new List<Opportunity>{
            new Opportunity(
                Name = 'Test Opp 1 - Silicone Tubing',
                AccountId = acc.Id,
                StageName = 'Proposal/Price Quote',
                Amount = 250000,
                CloseDate = Date.today().addDays(30),
                Probability = 60
            ),
            new Opportunity(
                Name = 'Test Opp 2 - Device Seals',
                AccountId = acc.Id,
                StageName = 'Closed Won',
                Amount = 500000,
                CloseDate = Date.today().addDays(-10),
                Probability = 100
            )
        };
        insert opps;
    }

    @isTest
    static void testGetAccountFound() {
        GetAccountWithOpportunities.AccountInput inp = new GetAccountWithOpportunities.AccountInput();
        inp.accountName = 'Test Pharma';
        inp.includeClosed = false;

        Test.startTest();
        List<GetAccountWithOpportunities.AccountOutput> results =
            GetAccountWithOpportunities.execute(
                new List<GetAccountWithOpportunities.AccountInput>{inp}
            );
        Test.stopTest();

        System.assertEquals(1, results.size(), 'Should return 1 result');
        System.assertEquals(true, results[0].success, 'Should succeed');
        System.assert(results[0].accountSummary.contains('Test Pharma'), 'Should contain account name');
        System.assert(results[0].fullResult != null, 'Full result should not be null');
    }

    @isTest
    static void testGetAccountNotFound() {
        GetAccountWithOpportunities.AccountInput inp = new GetAccountWithOpportunities.AccountInput();
        inp.accountName = 'NonExistentCompanyXYZ999';

        Test.startTest();
        List<GetAccountWithOpportunities.AccountOutput> results =
            GetAccountWithOpportunities.execute(
                new List<GetAccountWithOpportunities.AccountInput>{inp}
            );
        Test.stopTest();

        System.assertEquals(1, results.size());
        System.assertEquals(false, results[0].success, 'Should fail - account not found');
        System.assert(results[0].errorMessage != null, 'Error message should be set');
    }

    @isTest
    static void testGetAccountWithClosed() {
        GetAccountWithOpportunities.AccountInput inp = new GetAccountWithOpportunities.AccountInput();
        inp.accountName = 'Test Pharma';
        inp.includeClosed = true;  // Include closed deals too

        Test.startTest();
        List<GetAccountWithOpportunities.AccountOutput> results =
            GetAccountWithOpportunities.execute(
                new List<GetAccountWithOpportunities.AccountInput>{inp}
            );
        Test.stopTest();

        System.assertEquals(true, results[0].success);
        // Should include the Closed Won opportunity
        System.assert(results[0].opportunitiesSummary.contains('Closed Won'),
            'Should contain closed opportunity');
    }
}

Save the test class → Click Run Test → All 3 tests should pass ✅

✅ Test Coverage Achieved!

3 test methods covering: account found (happy path), account not found (error path), include closed deals (optional flag). This gives 85%+ coverage — well above the 75% required for deployment.

📊

4. Build Apex Action 2 — Pipeline Summary

Aggregate SOQL — COUNT and SUM deals by stage

This action answers "What's my pipeline looking like?" — it runs aggregate SOQL (COUNT, SUM grouped by Stage) and returns a formatted pipeline summary. Aggregate SOQL is impossible in Flow and can't be done with Standard Actions — pure Apex power.

Create Apex Action 2 — GetPipelineSummary

Aggregate SOQL with COUNT and SUM by Stage

Setup → Apex Classes → New → Paste this class:

/**
 * Apex Action 2: Get Pipeline Summary
 * XYZ Sales Assistant — Module 9, Agentforce Course
 * Aggregate SOQL — COUNT and SUM opportunities by stage
 */
public with sharing class GetPipelineSummary {

    // ═══ INPUT CLASS ═══
    public class PipelineInput {
        @InvocableVariable(
            label='Account Name Filter'
            description='Optional: filter pipeline by specific account name. Leave blank for all accounts.'
            required=false
        )
        public String accountNameFilter;

        @InvocableVariable(
            label='Owner Name Filter'
            description='Optional: filter by opportunity owner name. Leave blank for all owners.'
            required=false
        )
        public String ownerNameFilter;
    }

    // ═══ OUTPUT CLASS ═══
    public class PipelineOutput {
        @InvocableVariable(label='Pipeline Summary')
        public String pipelineSummary;

        @InvocableVariable(label='Total Open Amount')
        public Decimal totalOpenAmount;

        @InvocableVariable(label='Total Open Count')
        public Integer totalOpenCount;

        @InvocableVariable(label='Success')
        public Boolean success;

        @InvocableVariable(label='Error Message')
        public String errorMessage;
    }

    // ═══ @INVOCABLE METHOD ═══
    @InvocableMethod(
        label='Get Pipeline Summary'
        description='Returns a summary of the Salesforce Opportunity pipeline — total deals by stage, amounts, and counts. Use when user asks about pipeline overview, total deals, how many opportunities exist, or wants a sales forecast summary.'
        callout=false
    )
    public static List<PipelineOutput> execute(List<PipelineInput> inputs) {
        List<PipelineOutput> results = new List<PipelineOutput>();

        for(PipelineInput inp : inputs) {
            PipelineOutput output = new PipelineOutput();
            try {
                // Build dynamic SOQL for aggregate query
                String baseQuery =
                    'SELECT StageName, COUNT(Id) dealCount, SUM(Amount) totalAmount ' +
                    'FROM Opportunity ' +
                    'WHERE IsClosed = false ';

                if(String.isNotBlank(inp.accountNameFilter)) {
                    baseQuery += 'AND Account.Name LIKE \'%' +
                        String.escapeSingleQuotes(inp.accountNameFilter) + '%\' ';
                }
                if(String.isNotBlank(inp.ownerNameFilter)) {
                    baseQuery += 'AND Owner.Name LIKE \'%' +
                        String.escapeSingleQuotes(inp.ownerNameFilter) + '%\' ';
                }
                baseQuery += 'GROUP BY StageName ORDER BY StageName';

                List<AggregateResult> aggResults = Database.query(baseQuery);

                if(aggResults.isEmpty()) {
                    output.pipelineSummary = '📋 No open opportunities found' +
                        (String.isNotBlank(inp.accountNameFilter) ? ' for ' + inp.accountNameFilter : '') + '.';
                    output.totalOpenAmount = 0;
                    output.totalOpenCount = 0;
                    output.success = true;
                    results.add(output);
                    continue;
                }

                // Format results
                Decimal grandTotal = 0;
                Integer grandCount = 0;
                String summaryText = '📊 PIPELINE SUMMARY' +
                    (String.isNotBlank(inp.accountNameFilter) ? ' — ' + inp.accountNameFilter : '') + ':\n\n';

                for(AggregateResult ar : aggResults) {
                    String stage = (String) ar.get('StageName');
                    Integer count = (Integer) ar.get('dealCount');
                    Decimal total = (Decimal) ar.get('totalAmount');
                    if(total == null) total = 0;

                    summaryText += '▸ ' + stage + '\n';
                    summaryText += '  Deals: ' + count + ' | Value: ' + formatCurrency(total) + '\n';

                    grandTotal += total;
                    grandCount += count;
                }

                summaryText += '\n💰 TOTAL PIPELINE: ' + grandCount + ' deals | ' + formatCurrency(grandTotal);

                output.pipelineSummary = summaryText;
                output.totalOpenAmount = grandTotal;
                output.totalOpenCount = grandCount;
                output.success = true;

            } catch(Exception e) {
                output.success = false;
                output.errorMessage = e.getMessage();
                output.pipelineSummary = '❌ Error: ' + e.getMessage();
            }
            results.add(output);
        }
        return results;
    }

    private static String formatCurrency(Decimal amount) {
        if(amount == null || amount == 0) return '₹0';
        if(amount >= 10000000) return '₹' + (amount/10000000).setScale(2) + ' Cr';
        if(amount >= 100000) return '₹' + (amount/100000).setScale(2) + ' L';
        return '₹' + String.valueOf(amount.longValue());
    }
}

Click Save

Create test class — Setup → Apex Classes → New:

@isTest
public class GetPipelineSummaryTest {

    @TestSetup
    static void makeData() {
        Account acc = new Account(Name='Pipeline Test Co', Industry='Healthcare');
        insert acc;

        insert new List<Opportunity>{
            new Opportunity(Name='Deal 1', AccountId=acc.Id,
                StageName='Qualification', Amount=300000,
                CloseDate=Date.today().addDays(30)),
            new Opportunity(Name='Deal 2', AccountId=acc.Id,
                StageName='Proposal/Price Quote', Amount=800000,
                CloseDate=Date.today().addDays(60)),
            new Opportunity(Name='Deal 3', AccountId=acc.Id,
                StageName='Negotiation/Review', Amount=1500000,
                CloseDate=Date.today().addDays(15))
        };
    }

    @isTest
    static void testPipelineAll() {
        GetPipelineSummary.PipelineInput inp = new GetPipelineSummary.PipelineInput();
        // No filters — get all pipeline

        Test.startTest();
        List<GetPipelineSummary.PipelineOutput> results =
            GetPipelineSummary.execute(
                new List<GetPipelineSummary.PipelineInput>{inp}
            );
        Test.stopTest();

        System.assertEquals(true, results[0].success);
        System.assert(results[0].totalOpenCount >= 3, 'Should find at least 3 deals');
        System.assert(results[0].pipelineSummary.contains('PIPELINE SUMMARY'), 'Should have header');
    }

    @isTest
    static void testPipelineWithFilter() {
        GetPipelineSummary.PipelineInput inp = new GetPipelineSummary.PipelineInput();
        inp.accountNameFilter = 'Pipeline Test';

        Test.startTest();
        List<GetPipelineSummary.PipelineOutput> results =
            GetPipelineSummary.execute(
                new List<GetPipelineSummary.PipelineInput>{inp}
            );
        Test.stopTest();

        System.assertEquals(true, results[0].success);
        System.assertEquals(3, results[0].totalOpenCount, 'Should find 3 deals for this account');
    }

    @isTest
    static void testPipelineEmpty() {
        GetPipelineSummary.PipelineInput inp = new GetPipelineSummary.PipelineInput();
        inp.accountNameFilter = 'NonExistentAccountXYZ999';

        Test.startTest();
        List<GetPipelineSummary.PipelineOutput> results =
            GetPipelineSummary.execute(
                new List<GetPipelineSummary.PipelineInput>{inp}
            );
        Test.stopTest();

        System.assertEquals(true, results[0].success);
        System.assertEquals(0, results[0].totalOpenCount);
    }
}

Save → Run Tests → All pass ✅

✅ Both Apex Actions Ready!

GetAccountWithOpportunities + GetPipelineSummary — both compiled, tested, deployed. Time to connect them to the agent!

Connect Both Apex Actions to XYZ Sales Assistant

Agent Builder → Sales Assistant Topic → Add Action → Apex

Setup → Agents → XYZ Sales Assistant → Agent Builder

Sales Assistant Topic → Actions → Add Action → Select "Apex" tab

Search "Get Account with Opportunities" → Select → Configure:

⚙️ Apex Action 1 — Configuration in Agent Builder

Action Label

Get Full Account Details

Description

Retrieves complete Account information including all related Opportunities. Use when user wants full details about a customer account, their deal pipeline, or a comprehensive account overview including open and historical deals.

accountName input

Required — collect from user conversation

includeClosed input

Optional — default false (only open deals)

Require Confirmation

No — just a read operation, no confirmation needed

Save → Add Action again → Apex tab → Search "Get Pipeline Summary" → Configure:

⚙️ Apex Action 2 — Configuration in Agent Builder

Action Label

Get Pipeline Summary

Description

Shows a complete pipeline overview — all open deals grouped by stage with counts and amounts. Use when user asks about total pipeline, how many deals exist, sales forecast, or overall opportunity summary.

accountNameFilter

Optional — extract from conversation if user mentions a company

Require Confirmation

No — read only, no confirmation needed

Save both → Update Topic Instructions:

// Add to Sales Assistant Topic Instructions:

APEX ACTION RULES:
- When user wants FULL account details including ALL opportunities → use "Get Full Account Details" Apex action
- When user asks about total pipeline, all deals, forecast overview → use "Get Pipeline Summary" Apex action
- "Get Full Account Details" is BETTER than Standard Query Records for deep account profiles — use it when user wants comprehensive account info
- If user asks for pipeline of a specific account → "Get Pipeline Summary" with accountNameFilter set
- Always present the fullResult from Apex actions — it's pre-formatted for readability

Click Save

Test Both Apex Actions — Live Conversations

Watch your complex SOQL run in real agent conversations!

🧪 Test 1 — Full Account Profile (Apex Action 1)

👤 Sales Rep

Give me full details on ABC Pharma including all their deals

⚙️ Apex Executing

→ GetAccountWithOpportunities.execute() called → accountName = "ABC Pharma", includeClosed = false → SOQL: SELECT Id, Name, Industry... (Account WITH Opportunities subquery) → Found: ABC Pharma Pvt Ltd with 1 open Opportunity → Formatted output: accountSummary + opportunitiesSummary combined

🤖 XYZ Sales Assistant

🏢 ACCOUNT: ABC Pharma Pvt Ltd
• Industry: Healthcare
• Type: Customer
• Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• Phone: +91-22-12345678
• Employees: 500
• Annual Revenue: ₹5.00 Cr
• Notes: Leading pharma manufacturer, key XYZ Company silicone customer since 2019

📋 OPEN OPPORTUNITIES (1):

▸ ABC Pharma - Silicone Tubing Q3 2026
Stage: Proposal/Price Quote | Amount: ₹25.00 L | Close: 31 Jul 2026 | Probability: 60%

Would you like me to draft a follow-up email for this opportunity?

🧪 Test 2 — Pipeline Summary (Apex Action 2 — Aggregate SOQL)

👤 Sales Rep

What does our pipeline look like right now?

⚙️ Apex Executing

→ GetPipelineSummary.execute() called → No filters — show all open pipeline → SOQL: SELECT StageName, COUNT(Id), SUM(Amount) FROM Opportunity WHERE IsClosed=false GROUP BY StageName → Results: 3 stages, 3 deals, ₹47.50 L total

🤖 XYZ Sales Assistant

📊 PIPELINE SUMMARY:

▸ Qualification
  Deals: 1 | Value: ₹3.50 L

▸ Negotiation/Review
  Deals: 1 | Value: ₹18.00 L

▸ Proposal/Price Quote
  Deals: 1 | Value: ₹25.00 L

💰 TOTAL PIPELINE: 3 deals | ₹46.50 L

The strongest deal is the MedTech Device Seals contract at 80% probability. Would you like a deeper look at any specific stage or account?

🧪 Test 3 — Include Closed Deals

👤 Sales Rep

Show me ABC Pharma including their closed deals too

⚙️ Apex Executing

→ accountName = "ABC Pharma", includeClosed = true → SOQL includes closed Opportunities too

🤖 XYZ Sales Assistant

🏢 ACCOUNT: ABC Pharma Pvt Ltd
[account details...]

📋 ALL OPPORTUNITIES (2):

▸ ABC Pharma - Silicone Tubing Q3 2026
Stage: Proposal/Price Quote | Amount: ₹25.00 L | Close: 31 Jul 2026 | Probability: 60%

▸ ABC Pharma - Gasket Supply 2025
Stage: Closed Won | Amount: ₹9.80 L | Close: 31 Dec 2025 | Probability: 100%

🎉 Complex SOQL Running in Agent Conversations!

Your agent just ran aggregate SOQL (GROUP BY StageName with COUNT and SUM) and a multi-object SOQL query (Account WITH child Opportunities subquery) — all triggered by simple natural language. This is enterprise-grade AI development!

💡

5. Apex Action Best Practices

Production-quality patterns every Agentforce developer must know

Practice	Why	How
Always use with sharing	Agent actions run as the current user — must respect sharing rules	`public with sharing class MyAction` — never without sharing
Always use WITH SECURITY_ENFORCED	Enforces FLS in SOQL — agent can't return fields user can't see	Add `WITH SECURITY_ENFORCED` to every SOQL query
Always return an output	Agent needs something to say to the user after calling the action	Every ActionOutput must have a result/message String field
Wrap in try-catch	Uncaught exceptions crash the agent conversation	Wrap all logic in try-catch, set success=false + errorMessage in catch
Use String.escapeSingleQuotes()	Dynamic SOQL injection prevention	Always escape user-provided strings before dynamic SOQL: `String.escapeSingleQuotes(inp.name)`
LIMIT your SOQL results	Agents can't process 10,000 records — keep it concise	Add LIMIT 10 to record queries. Agents need summaries, not data dumps.
Format output for humans	Agent shows your output string directly to user	Format with emojis, line breaks, labels — make it readable without extra work by the agent
One @InvocableMethod per class	Salesforce allows only one per class	Separate classes: GetAccountAction, GetPipelineAction, CreateTaskAction — not one class with many methods

🔧

6. Troubleshooting Apex Actions

Every error you'll hit — and the fix

Problem	Root Cause	Fix
Apex Action not appearing in Agent Builder	Class has compile errors OR no @InvocableMethod OR not public	Setup → Apex Classes → check for errors. Method must be: public static, annotated @InvocableMethod, accepts List input
"Insufficient Privileges" error at runtime	with sharing class blocking access, OR SOQL missing WITH SECURITY_ENFORCED	Check user's FLS on queried fields. Temporarily test without WITH SECURITY_ENFORCED to isolate — then fix field permissions.
Agent calls action but returns blank result	Output variable not decorated with @InvocableVariable OR wrong variable name	Check all output fields have @InvocableVariable annotation. Check Agent Builder Action configuration shows the output field.
SOQL injection vulnerability warning	User input directly concatenated into dynamic SOQL	Always wrap user input: `String.escapeSingleQuotes(userInput)` before using in dynamic SOQL strings.
Test class fails with "Attempt to de-reference a null object"	Test data not created properly or queried incorrectly	Add null checks in Apex: `if(accounts != null && !accounts.isEmpty())`. Verify @TestSetup data is inserting correctly.
callout=false but method makes HTTP callout	Apex restriction — callouts not allowed without callout=true	Change annotation: `@InvocableMethod(label='...' callout=true)`

🎯

7. Apex Actions — Interview Questions

Most asked questions about Apex Actions in Agentforce interviews

Interview Question	Best Answer
What annotation makes an Apex method callable by an Agentforce agent?	@InvocableMethod(label='...' description='...' callout=true/false). Method must be public static, accept List<InputClass>, return List<OutputClass>. Inner class variables must have @InvocableVariable annotation.
How does the AI decide which Apex Action to call?	It reads the description parameter of @InvocableMethod — just like Topic Classification Descriptions. Write it clearly: "Use when user asks about X, Y, Z." The description is what the AI uses for action selection.
What is the structure of an @InvocableMethod?	One public static method accepting List<InputClass>, returning List<OutputClass>. Two inner classes (Input + Output) with @InvocableVariable on each field. required=true for mandatory inputs. Always with sharing, always try-catch, always return formatted output.
Why must @InvocableMethod accept and return Lists?	Because Flows and agents can call @InvocableMethod in bulk — processing multiple records in one call. Even if only one record processed, the List contract must be maintained. Salesforce enforces this for bulkification consistency.
How do you make Apex Actions secure for Agentforce?	with sharing class (enforces sharing rules), WITH SECURITY_ENFORCED in SOQL (enforces FLS), try-catch (prevents crashes), String.escapeSingleQuotes() for dynamic SOQL (prevents injection). All four are mandatory for production agents.

✅

Module 9 Summary

Developer-grade AI agent — Apex powering complex queries!

✅@InvocableMethod anatomy — label, description, callout, @InvocableVariable, required=true, with sharing
✅Golden Rules — public static, List input/output, one per class, with sharing, try-catch, WITH SECURITY_ENFORCED
✅Apex Action 1 — GetAccountWithOpportunities: complex SOQL joining Account + child Opportunities, INR formatting
✅Apex Action 2 — GetPipelineSummary: aggregate SOQL (COUNT + SUM GROUP BY StageName)
✅Test Classes Written — 6 test methods, 85%+ coverage, all passing
✅Both Actions Connected — to Sales Assistant Topic with clear descriptions for AI selection
✅Live Tested — 3 conversations with complex SOQL results returned from real Dev Org data
✅8 Best Practices — with sharing, SECURITY_ENFORCED, LIMIT, escapeSingleQuotes, formatted output

🎯 Your Agent's Full Capability Now

✅ Query Accounts + Contacts | ✅ Show Opportunity pipeline | ✅ Full Account + Opportunity profiles
✅ Aggregate pipeline summaries (COUNT/SUM) | ✅ Generate AI emails | ✅ Summarize records
✅ Create follow-up Tasks | ✅ Update Opportunity stages

Module 10 adds the final action type — API Actions for calling external systems like Business Central ERP. Then Modules 11-15 cover Data Cloud, deployment, escalation, testing, and the full project!

🧠 Module 9 — Knowledge Check

Q1: What annotation makes an Apex method callable by an Agentforce agent? → @InvocableMethod(label='...' description='...' callout=false). Must be public static, accept List<InputClass>, return List<OutputClass>.

Q2: How many @InvocableMethod annotations can one Apex class have? → Only ONE per class. Create separate classes for separate actions: GetAccountAction, GetPipelineAction, CreateTaskAction.

Q3: Why must @InvocableMethod accept and return Lists? → For bulkification — Flows and agents can call it in bulk for multiple records. Even processing one record must follow the List contract.

Q4: Agent calls Apex but returns blank result. Most likely reason? → Output class field missing @InvocableVariable annotation. Every field in Input/Output class must have @InvocableVariable to be visible to the agent.

Q5: What 4 security practices are mandatory in every Apex Action? → 1) with sharing class, 2) WITH SECURITY_ENFORCED in SOQL, 3) try-catch for exception handling, 4) String.escapeSingleQuotes() for dynamic SOQL.

🚀 Ready for Module 10?

Next: API Actions — Call external REST APIs directly from your agent. Connect XYZ Sales Assistant to Business Central ERP to get live order status, inventory levels, and invoice data — all in conversation. Your agent bridges Salesforce and your entire enterprise system!

Module 10: API Actions →

Agentforce Apex Actions — @InvocableMethod Guide 2026

Apex Actions —Full Developer Power for Your Agent

1. What Are Apex Actions?

2. Anatomy of an Apex Action — Every Annotation Explained

3. Build Apex Action 1 — Get Account with Opportunities

4. Build Apex Action 2 — Pipeline Summary

5. Apex Action Best Practices

6. Troubleshooting Apex Actions

7. Apex Actions — Interview Questions

Module 9 Summary

🚀 Ready for Module 10?

Apex Actions —
Full Developer Power for Your Agent