Content Index
What is Visualforce?
Visualforce is a markup language that allows you to describe the user interface components that live on your Force.com.Visualforce is the component-based user interface framework for the Force.com platform. The framework includes a tag-based markup language; similar to HTML. Visualforce is used for building various attractive and dynamic applications. Visualforce lives on the server. So any code you write will be generated and run on the server.
Visualforce Action
A Visualforce page is created by using composing components, HTML, and optional styling elements on the Force.com platform. Visualforce also can integrate with other standard web technology, javascript, jQuery, anugalr.js, bootstrap to give more animated and attractive users. Each page is then accessible by a unique URL. When someone accesses a page, the server renders the page.
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As the figure above image, pages are constructed on the server and depending on the logic behind the page may interact with the database; invoke external web service calls, or both, before returning the view to the client (browser). In fact:
- Visualforce pages can react differently to different client browsers such as those on a mobile or touch screen device.
- Everything runs on the server, so no additional client-side callbacks are needed to render a complete view.
- Optional server-side callouts can be made to any Web service.
What is a Visualforce Page?
Visualforce is a salesforce markup language which allows user to create interface component in salesforce.
Read: What Apex Email in Salesforce?
There are two elements in the Visualforce page.
- Visualforce markup
- A Visualforce controller
Visualforce Markup
Visualforce markup consists of Visualforce tags, HTML, JavaScript, jQuery, CSS, and Ajax or any other Web-enabled code embedded within a single tag, Visualforce is salesforce custom markup language and represents the view in a Model-View-Controller software design pattern.
VisualForce Controller
:
The Visualforce controller is an element in Visualforce pages which set to manipulate data with user interactions. Visualforce controllers are of three types they are
- Standard controllers.
- Custom Controllers.
- Extension controllers.
Standard controller:
The standard controller is a pre-built visualforce controller by salesforce.com.Standard controllers that contain the same functionality and logic that are used for standard Salesforce pages. If you use the standard Accounts controller, clicking a Save button in Visualforce page results in the same functionality as clicking Save on a standard Account edit page.It can be used in both standard and custom object Syntax
<apex: page standardcontroller ="Account">
</apex: page>
Custom controller
: When a developer needs more customize functionality then we should go to their own apex controller class.
<apex: page controller = "CustomController"></apex: page>
Extension controllers:
A controller extension is an Apex class that extends the functionality of a standard or custom controller. Extension controllers give additional functionality to a standard controller and controller. When we need both standard controller and Controller functionality we use extension controllers to call Controller in visual force page. If there is more than one extension it will execute from left to right.
<apex: page standardcontroller= “Account” extensions = “CustomController1, CustomController1”>
</apex: page>
Where Can Visualforce Pages Be Used?
Developers can use Visualforce pages to:- Override standard functionality, such as the New, Edit
- Override tab overview pages, such as the Accounts tab home page
- Define custom tabs
- Can be integrated with HTML, CSS, Ajax, jQuery
- Embed components in detail page layouts
- Create dashboard components or custom help pages
- Customize, extend, or integrate the sidebars in the Salesforce console (custom console components)
- Add menu items, actions, and mobile cards in Salesforce1
Creating Simple Visualforce Page
Visualforce is a unique markup language of salesforce used to develop user interface pages according to the client requirement. It runs on salesforce.com platform. We can create a visual force page using a standard controller or controller or extension. Before creating a Visualforce page check that you have permission for visual force or not. Enable development mode to enable developer console
Read: How to Become a Salesforce Consultant: Salesforce Consultant Career Path
Navigation to the Visualforce page
Setup =>Build =>Develop=>page Enter Label name
After saving click on preview button
Creating Simple Visualforce Page using Standard Controller
Read: How to Export Backup Data from Salesforce?
<apex:page standardController="Opportunity" recordSetVar="opportunities" tabStyle="Opportunity" sidebar="false">
<apex:form >
<apex:pageBlock >
<apex:pageMessages />
<apex:pageBlock >
<apex:panelGrid columns="2">
<apex:outputLabel value="View:"/>
<apex:selectList value="{!filterId}" size="1">
<apex:actionSupport event="onchange" rerender="opp_table"/>
<apex:selectOptions value="{!listviewoptions}"/>
</apex:selectList>
</apex:panelGrid>
</apex:pageBlock>
<apex:pageBlockButtons >
<apex:commandButton value="Save" action="{!save}"/>
</apex:pageBlockButtons>
<apex:pageBlockTable value="{!opportunities}" var="opp" id="opp_table">
<apex:column value="{!opp.name}"/>
<apex:column headerValue="Stage">
<apex:inputField value="{!opp.stageName}"/>
</apex:column>
<apex:column headerValue="Close Date">
<apex:inputField value="{!opp.closeDate}"/>
</apex:column>
</apex:pageBlockTable>
</apex:pageBlock>
</apex:form>
</apex:page>
Save and click on the preview
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Visualforce Using Custom controller
public class LoadContactsPageController {
Public List<SelectOption> lstOptions {get; set;}
Public string selectedAccount {get;set;}
Public List<Contact> lstContacts {get;set;}
Public LoadContactsPageController(){
List<Account> lstAccounts = [select id, name from account order by name];
lstOptions = new List<Selectoption>();
if(!lstAccounts.isEmpty()){
lstOptions.Add(new SelectOption('','---None---'));
for(Account acc : lstAccounts){
lstOptions.Add(new SelectOption(acc.Id,acc.name));
}
}
}
Public PageReference LoadContacts(){
lstContacts = [select id, firstname, lastname,phone from contact where accountid =: selectedAccount ];
return null;
}
}
Visualforce page
<apex:page controller="LoadContactsPageController" tabstyle="Lead" sidebar="false" setup="false" id="out" >
<apex:sectionHeader title="Contacts" subtitle="Contact Search"/>
<apex:form >
<apex:pageblock title="Search Contacts">
<apex:pageblockSection title="Contact Search" collapsible="false" columns="2">
<apex:selectList label="Select Account Name" multiselect="false" size="1" value="{!selectedAccount}">
<apex:selectoptions value="{!lstOptions}">
<apex:actionSupport event="onchange" action="{!LoadContacts}" rendered="pgblock" />
</apex:selectoptions>
</apex:selectList>
<apex:commandButton value="Load Contacts" action="{!LoadContacts}" rerender="pgBlock"/>
</apex:pageblockSection>
<apex:pageblockSection id="pgBlock" title="Search Results : {!lstContacts.size}" collapsible="false" columns="1">
<apex:pageblockTable value="{!lstContacts}" var="con">
<apex:column value="{!con.FirstName}"/>
<apex:column value="{!con.LastName}"/>
<apex:column value="{!con.phone}"/>
</apex:pageblockTable>
</apex:pageblockSection>
</apex:pageblock>
</apex:form>
</apex:page>
Save and Click on preview 
Visualforce Page using Extension controller
public class AccountPagination
{
private final Account acct;
public AccountPagination(ApexPages.StandardSetController controller) {
this.acct = (Account)controller.getRecord();
}
public ApexPages.StandardSetController accountRecords {
get {
if(accountRecords == null) {
accountRecords = new ApexPages.StandardSetController(
Database.getQueryLocator([SELECT Name FROM Account]));
}
return accountRecords;
}
private set;
}
public List<Account> getAccountPagination() {
return (List<Account>) accountRecords.getRecords();
}
}
Visualforce page
<apex:page standardController="Account" recordSetVar="accounts" extensions="AccountPagination">
<apex:pageBlock title="Viewing Accounts">
<apex:form id="theForm">
<apex:pageBlockSection >
<apex:dataList value="{!accountPagination}" var="acct" type="1">
{!acct.name}
</apex:dataList>
</apex:pageBlockSection>
<apex:panelGrid columns="2">
<apex:commandLink action="{!previous}">Previous</apex:commandlink>
<apex:commandLink action="{!next}">Next</apex:commandlink>
</apex:panelGrid>
</apex:form>
</apex:pageBlock>
</apex:page>
Save and preview 
Summing up
Visualforce requires approximately 150 built-in components that provide a variety of UI elements and behavior. Practice more and grow more. Happy learning!
Read: A Detailed Guide on Salesforce Developer Roles & Responsibilities
