Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:
To determine the correct declaration of the class and methods for a custom SOAP Web Service in Apex, we need to evaluate the syntax and access modifiers required for SOAP Web Services, as well as the handling of helper methods that are not exposed to the external Web Application. Let’s analyze the problem and each option systematically, referencing Salesforce’s official Apex Developer Guide.
Understanding SOAP Web Services in Apex:
SOAP Web Service: Salesforce allows developers to create SOAP Web Services using Apex by defining methods that can be called externally via SOAP. The Apex Developer Guide states: “Apex SOAP Web Services allow external applications to invoke Apex methods over SOAP by exposing them with the webservice keyword” (Salesforce Apex Developer Guide, SOAP Web Services).
Class Declaration: For an Apex class to be a SOAP Web Service, it must be declared as global to allow external access. The Apex Developer Guide specifies: “The class containing SOAP Web Service methods must be declared as global to be accessible externally” (Salesforce Apex Developer Guide, SOAP Web Services).
Method Declaration:
Methods exposed as Web Service operations must be static and annotated with the webservice keyword. The Apex Developer Guide notes: “Methods defined as SOAP Web Service operations must be static and use the webservice keyword” (Salesforce Apex Developer Guide, SOAP Web Services).
The return type and parameters of webservice methods must be compatible with SOAP (e.g \String, Integer, sObjects, etc.).
Helper Methods: The question specifies that helper methods are included but not used by the Web Application, meaning they should not be exposed as part of the Web Service. Helper methods can be private or public and should not have the webservice keyword, ensuring they are not part of the WSDL (Web Service Definition Language) exposed to the external application.
Requirement Analysis:
Class: Must be global to expose the Web Service to external applications.
Web Service Method (updateRecords): Must be static, use the webservice keyword, and be part of the global class to be callable via SOAP.
Helper Method (helperMethod): Should be private (or not webservice) to ensure it’s not exposed in the WSDL and is only used internally within the class.
Evaluating the Options:
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webservice class WebServiceClass {
private Boolean helperMethod() { /* implementation ... */ }
global static String updateRecords() { /* implementation ... */ }
}
Class Declaration: Uses webservice class instead of global class. The webservice keyword is not a valid modifier for a class in Apex. The Apex Developer Guide clarifies: “The webservice keyword is used for methods, not classes. The class itself must be global” (Salesforce Apex Developer Guide, SOAP Web Services). This results in a compilation error.
Helper Method: private Boolean helperMethod() is correct, as it’s not exposed to the Web Service (no webservice keyword).
Web Service Method: global static String updateRecords() uses global, which is incorrect for a method. Methods in a global class should use webservice to be exposed as Web Service operations, not global. The Apex Developer Guide states: “Methods in a Web Service class use the webservice keyword, not global” (Salesforce Apex Developer Guide, SOAP Web Services).
Conclusion: Incorrect due to invalid class declaration (webservice class) and incorrect method modifier (global instead of webservice).
B.
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global class WebServiceClass {
private Boolean helperMethod() { /* implementation ... */ }
webservice static String updateRecords() { /* implementation ... */ }
}
Class Declaration: Uses global class, which is correct. A SOAP Web Service class must be global to be accessible externally.
Helper Method: private Boolean helperMethod() is correct, as it’s not exposed to the Web Service (no webservice keyword), fulfilling the requirement that it’s not used by the Web Application.
Web Service Method: webservice static String updateRecords() is correct. It uses the webservice keyword to expose the method as a Web Service operation, is static as required, and returns a SOAP-compatible type (String).
Conclusion: Correct, as it meets all requirements for a SOAP Web Service class, exposes the updateRecords method properly, and keeps the helper method internal.
C.
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webservice class WebServiceClass {
private Boolean helperMethod() { /* implementation ... */ }
webservice static String updateRecords() { /* implementation ... */ }
}
Class Declaration: Uses webservice class, which, as noted in option A, is invalid. The class must be global, not webservice.
Helper Method: private Boolean helperMethod() is correct (not exposed).
Web Service Method: webservice static String updateRecords() is correct in syntax, but the class declaration error makes the entire code segment invalid.
Conclusion: Incorrect due to the invalid class declaration (webservice class).
D.
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global class WebServiceClass {
private Boolean helperMethod() { /* implementation ... */ }
global String updateRecords() { /* implementation ... */ }
}
Class Declaration: Uses global class, which is correct.
Helper Method: private Boolean helperMethod() is correct (not exposed).
Web Service Method: global String updateRecords() is incorrect. The method uses global instead of webservice, and it’s not static. For a method to be exposed as a SOAP Web Service operation, it must be webservice and static. Additionally, global is not a valid modifier for methods in this context; it’s used for the class. The Apex Developer Guide warns: “Non-static methods or methods without the webservice keyword are not exposed in the WSDL” (Salesforce Apex Developer Guide, SOAP Web Services).
Conclusion: Incorrect, as the updateRecords method is not properly exposed as a Web Service operation (missing webservice and static).
Why Option B is Correct:
Option B is correct because:
The class is declared as global class WebServiceClass, making it accessible to external applications as required for a SOAP Web Service.
The updateRecords method is declared as webservice static String updateRecords(), correctly exposing it as a Web Service operation that can be called via SOAP.
The helper method helperMethod is private and lacks the webservice keyword, ensuring it’s not exposed in the WSDL and is only used internally, meeting the requirement that it’s not used by the Web Application.
This aligns with Salesforce best practices for SOAP Web Services as outlined in the Apex Developer Guide.
Example for Clarity:
Here’s how option B would be implemented in a complete Apex class:
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global class WebServiceClass {
// Helper method, not exposed in the WSDL
private Boolean helperMethod() {
return true; // Example implementation
}
// Web Service method, exposed in the WSDL
webservice static String updateRecords() {
if (helperMethod()) {
return 'Records updated successfully';
}
return 'Update failed';
}
}
When this class is deployed, Salesforce generates a WSDL that includes the updateRecords method but excludes helperMethod, allowing the external Web Application to call updateRecords via SOAP while keeping helperMethod internal.
Handling Typos:
The options are syntactically correct in the provided image, with no typos to address. The placeholders (/* implementation ... */) are standard for indicating omitted code and do not affect the analysis.
The question’s phrasing is clear, and the options align with typical Apex syntax patterns for Web Services.
[References:, Salesforce Apex Developer Guide: , “SOAP Web Services” section: Details the requirements for SOAP Web Service classes (global) and methods (webservice, static)., “Access Modifiers” section: Explains global, private, and webservice keywords.(Available at: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.apexcode.meta/apexcode/), Platform Developer I Study Guide: , Section on “Salesforce Platform and Declarative Features”: Covers creating and exposing SOAP Web Services in Apex.(Available at: https://trailhead.salesforce.com/en/content/learn/modules/platform-developer-i-certification-study-guide), , , , ]
