Remember those handy testing posts we shared? No worries if you missed them—we’ve got you covered. Here are a few from our QA series to get you started:
- Getting Started with Testing!
- Understanding Testing Types for Functionality and Performance
- Retesting and Regression Testing…What’s the Difference?
But today, we’re diving into something a bit more specific: Salesforce Flows tests!
Testing Flows in Salesforce, similar to any other (necessary) testing, involve giving your automated processes a thorough check-up to make sure they’re in tip-top shape before hitting production, giving you that extra confidence to ensure everything runs smoothly.
In this post, we’ll give you the lowdown on what Flow tests are, why you should run them, and some handy considerations and best practices to keep in mind. This is just the beginning—stay tuned for more Flow-testing goodness coming your way soon! Let’s get started.
What are Flow Tests?
Flow Tests are automated unit tests within Salesforce that allow users to validate the functionality of their flows. These tests are designed to simulate user interactions and data inputs to ensure that flows execute correctly and handle data accurately across different scenarios. Salesforce provides the capability to create unit tests directly within the Flow Builder interface, using a straightforward and accessible UI.
Why Flow Tests?
- Flow tests ensure the robustness and reliability of your Flows, particularly when modifications are made. They serve as a safeguard against errors and oversights, helping maintain the integrity of our automated processes.
- It minimizes the testing effort for end users by ensuring that every node and branch of the flow is thoroughly tested. It saves time doing regression testing as well.
- The interface is user-friendly and straightforward to use, as it primarily involves creating or updating records and adding assertions to test scenarios.
- Unlike Apex classes, which capture code coverage in terms of percentages, flow tests measure coverage by tracking the nodes that are activated during the test. When you select “Run Test and View Details,” the path that the test covers will be highlighted in yellow, visually representing the flow’s coverage from the start node to the end node. This method illustrates which parts of the flow are actually being tested and which parts are not.
- We can also test triggers and the sequence of execution that occurs downstream from the flow.
Best Practices to Consider
- Before activating a record-triggered flow, it is essential to test it thoroughly to ensure it produces the expected results and to identify any potential runtime failures. Make it a routine practice to unit test your record-triggered flows before activation. Thorough testing of all flow paths enhances reliability.
- Always develop and test your flows in a Sandbox or Developer org prior to deploying them into production.
- Aim to cover as much of your flow branches or nodes as possible with tests.
Key points to remember:
- Flow tests do not automatically execute with flow deployments.
- Flow tests exist as a separate Metadata Component
- Flow Tests must be deployed independently of flows
- Flow tests are independent of flow versions; creating a new version of a flow does not copy its tests.
- Unlike Apex Classes, flow tests require manual execution post-deployment; they will not run automatically.
- Flow tests support both packaging and change sets, facilitating easier management in different environments.
- The Salesforce CLI (SFDX Commands) can be used to retrieve and deploy flow tests, offering additional flexibility and control.
And there you have it! By now, you should have a good start to understanding what Flow tests are, why they’re essential, and some best practices to ensure your automated processes are rock-solid.
Remember, thorough testing is your best friend when it comes to maintaining the integrity and reliability of your Flows. So, make it a routine to test, test, and test again before moving anything into production. Stay tuned for more insights and tips on Flow testing coming your way soon. Happy testing!
Need some more advice on testing your automations within Salesforce? Let’s chat!
Author: Nupur Patel
Automation Specialist & Junior Salesforce Developer at Lane Four
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