Salesforce Lightning Components

Salesforce Lighting Components have made life easy for every business expanding its digital footprints with the help of fluid desktop and mobile applications. Salesforce Lighting has revolutionized mobile application development. It has simple, point-and-click app-building tools so that you do not require in-depth coding knowledge. Instead, what you need to have more is knowledge about your business process and how to digitize it.

By far, Salesforce Lightning provided app developers with the most convenient user interface to build high-performing, responsive mobile and desktop applications. Salesforce Lighting Components offer some amazing tools for developers to build high-quality apps in a very short span of time without coding.

This was the reason Salesforce invented the Lighting platform so that businesses can create a plethora of visually rich applications as per their need and budget. The admins can use Salesforce Lighting components in the Salesforce App Builder to create intuitive customer user interfaces for the application.

In this guide, We will start by understanding what exactly Salesforce Lighting Components are, and how to use them effectively. We’ll navigate through the Salesforce Lightning Component Library and component reference to understand their vast functionalities. We’ll also explore the world of Lightning Web Components, including practical examples to demonstrate their application in real-world scenarios.

So, let’s get started!

What are Salesforce Lightning Components?

Salesforce Lightning Components function as standalone, reusable elements within an application.They are the building blocks of Salesforce applications, used in the Lightning Experience, Salesforce’s app builder, and Salesforce communities. These elements are structured utilizing two distinct programming models: Aura Components and Lightning Web Components. 

Aura Components are part of a UI framework tailored for crafting dynamic web applications for both mobile and desktop platforms, employing JavaScript for client-side and Apex for server-side operations. 

In contrast, Lightning Web Components (LWC) employ a more contemporary framework that capitalizes on the significant advancements in web standards over the past five years. LWCs are custom HTML elements built using HTML, modern JavaScript, and CSS.

It’s essential to note that Aura Components and Lightning Web Components can exist and function side by side on the same page. They are encapsulated, ensuring that their internal structure doesn’t interfere with other components or the overall application.

These components can be used in various combinations to create anything from single-page applications to complex enterprise-level apps. They are highly customizable, which allows developers to create unique user experiences.

How to Use Salesforce Lighting Components?

The main usage of the Salesforce Lighting Components is building mobile apps that you can host on the Salesforce cloud as well. Lightning Components allow you to customize Salesforce services as per the business requirement. You can use the Lighting Components in Salesforce CRM to have proper coordination between the business, channel partners, and customers.

Here are the steps to build a Salesforce Lighting Component.

• Log in to your Salesforce developer edition org/account.
• Click the “Gear” icon beside the bell notification icon.
• Click “Developer Console.” It will open in a new tab.
•  In the “File” option in the menu, hover the mouse over the “New” option, and it will show more options. Click “Lightning Component”
• Provide a “Name” and” Description.”
• In the configuration section, select any configuration of your choice.
• Once done, click “Submit.” Your Lighting Component will be created.

For your knowledge, the Lightning Component you created will have “.cmp” as its extension. The fundamentals of web components are used in the Salesforce Lightning Component framework. You can use different languages like HTML, Javascript, CSS, and Apex to build various Salesforce Lightning apps. 

Now let’s learn what the advantages of Salesforce Lighting Components are. Along with its advantages, you should also be aware of its limitations.

What is a Salesforce Lightning Component Library?

The Salesforce Lightning Component Library is essentially a reservoir of reusable resources designed to enhance efficiency and consistency across multiple applications and components within Salesforce. This repository enables developers to construct top-tier applications more swiftly by capitalizing on existing components, thereby reducing errors and saving precious time.

Crafting Lightning Components for Your Apps or Websites

This process involves constructing a component library. This library comprises custom Lightning components and design tokens, all of which can be smoothly incorporated into your development workflow. The initial step is to construct Lightning components utilizing HTML, Javascript, and CSS. 

These components should be modular, allowing them to be easily adapted to meet the diverse needs of various applications and environments. Once your component is ready, the next step is to incorporate design tokens that dictate the component’s aesthetics. Finally, you add your fully prepared component, along with its related resources, to the Salesforce Lightning Component Library, ready to be reused in different apps or websites.

Effective Progress Tracking in the Component Library

Tracking progress within the Component Library necessitates a robust system for efficient updates and deployments. Tools like Github serve as excellent aids for project setup, issue tracking, and implementing changes. Regular code reviews and manual testing form the backbone of quality assurance throughout the development process. Moreover, employing reliable logging libraries to track alterations reduces the time spent on future maintenance tasks.

Long-Term Maintenance of Your Component Libraries

Ensuring the longevity and efficiency of your libraries involves a commitment to regular maintenance and proactive measures. Some key considerations for optimal library maintenance include using linting to consume only what’s necessary, setting up unit tests for each Component Library, monitoring component usage in different environments, and regularly checking security rules and scanning for integration bugs. 

Finally, always document your code. Detailed comments and comprehensive documentation can help developers quickly understand code objectives, significantly reducing debugging issues down the line.

Salesforce Lightning Web Component Reference

The Component Reference serves as a comprehensive guide, providing detailed information about each Lightning component. It acts as the primary source of documentation for the complete set of base components available in both the Lightning Web Components and Aura programming models.

Here are some key features of the Component Reference you should know about:

1. Component Filtering

The Overview page offers a filtering feature, allowing you to narrow down the components based on your interest areas. For instance, if you are specifically interested in components related to navigation, you can apply the Navigation filter under Filters | Categories.

2. Viewing Targets

Once you select a component, the Target panel displays the various contexts where the component can be utilized. These targets can range from Salesforce App, Lightning Experience, Experience Builder Sites, Salesforce Mobile App, to Standalone Lightning App, and many more.

3. Switching Between Components

The Component Reference feature provides an added level of flexibility by allowing you to transition effortlessly between different versions of a component. This can be done simply by clicking on the ‘View as Aura Component’ or ‘View as Lightning Web Component’ buttons. This capability ensures that you can compare and contrast the functionality of the different component types and choose the one that best suits your specific requirements.

4. Accessing Example, Documentation, and Specification Pages

A significant feature of the Component Reference is the provision of Example, Documentation, and Specification pages for most components. These pages serve as vital resources, providing a deeper understanding of each component’s functionality and implementation. However, it’s worth noting that certain components, specifically those like lightning-record-form and lightning-input-field that require Salesforce data, are not operable outside an org. Consequently, these components do not have an Example page. This is a reminder of the unique requirements and constraints of certain components within the Salesforce ecosystem.

What is Lightning Web Components?

Lightning Web Components (LWC) is a modern, standards-driven framework from Salesforce for creating enterprise-level applications. Unlike Aura Components, which was the original programming model for building Lightning components, LWC uses the modern web standards breakthrough of the last five years, making it more efficient, lightweight, and performant.

Here’s a closer look at what Lightning Web Components bring to the table:

1. Modern Web Standards: LWC are built using modern web technologies such as HTML, JavaScript, and CSS, making them compatible with modern web development practices and browsers.
2. Performance: As LWC align with modern web standards, they utilize the browser’s built-in capabilities leading to faster component performance, better security, and enhanced compatibility.
3. Interoperability: Both Aura Components and LWC can coexist and interoperate on a page, allowing developers to leverage their existing Aura Components while adopting LWC.
4. Easier Learning Curve: Developers familiar with modern web standards can easily understand and start developing using LWC, reducing the learning curve significantly.

Examples of Lightning Web Components 

To illustrate the practical use of Lightning Web Components, let’s consider a simple example of an LWC that fetches and displays a list of contacts from a Salesforce org:

1. Displaying a List of Contacts

In this example, a Lightning Web Component is used to fetch a list of contacts from the Salesforce database and display them in a formatted list. The HTML file for the component might contain a template that iterates over the list of contacts, and the JavaScript file would contain the logic to retrieve the contacts from Salesforce.

2. Creating a Record Form

Another common example would be creating a form to add a new contact to Salesforce. The HTML file would define the input fields for the contact’s details, and the JavaScript file would include the logic to handle the form submission and create a new contact in Salesforce.

Advantages of using Lightning Web Components (LWC)

Salesforce Lightning Components provide numerous advantages that make them a go-to for developers working on the Salesforce platform. Let’s delve into these advantages in detail:

1. Efficiency Through Reusability

One of the most significant advantages of Salesforce Lightning Components is their reusability. Developers can build components once and reuse them across different applications or even within the same application. This significantly reduces the time and effort required for development, leading to more efficient project delivery.

2. Enhanced Performance

Unlike the server-side nature of Visualforce, Salesforce Lightning Components are designed with a client-side architecture. This means the bulk of the processing happens on the user’s device rather than on the server. This architecture significantly improves the performance of applications built with Lightning Components, resulting in a smoother and faster user experience.

3. Mobile-First Approach

Salesforce Lightning Components are designed with a mobile-first approach. This means they are built to be responsive and provide an optimal user experience on mobile devices. In today’s world, where mobile usage is on the rise, this feature is crucial. It ensures that applications built with Salesforce Lightning Components deliver a consistent and user-friendly experience, regardless of the device used.

4. Compatibility with Modern Web Standards

Lightning Web Components (LWC), one of the types of Salesforce Lightning Components, are built using modern web standards. This means they leverage the latest advancements in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, making them more compatible with modern browsers and offering a more robust and feature-rich user experience.

5. Easier Maintenance and Upgrades

Given their modular nature, Salesforce Lightning Components are easier to maintain and upgrade. Changes or fixes can be made to one component without affecting the rest of the application. This makes maintenance and updates more manageable and less likely to introduce new bugs or issues.

A Brief Introduction to Salesforce Lightning Experience

Salesforce Lightning experience is the brand new user interface that is very responsive and highly intelligent, explicitly built to cater to new-age enterprise-level business requirements.

It is built by combining Lightning Components, Lightning Design System, a.k.a. SLDS, and no-code Lightning App Builder. It has been very useful to the sales and customer support teams, as the Salesforce experience is built with the help of Salesforce mobile technology. 

Salesforce provides a good synchronization between the Salesforce Lightning Experience on desktop and Salesforce Mobile app. This makes the sales team work more efficiently, as they can work on Leads on both platforms, convert them to customers, sell, and close more deals faster with the help of Salesforce Lightning Experience. 

Now let’s see some features of the Salesforce Lighting Experience.

• Modern and intelligent user interface backed by cutting-edge technology.
• Salesforce mobile app is built using the Salesforce Lightning experience technology.
• It enables sales personnel to work more efficiently, thereby increasing productivity.

Visualforce Vs. Salesforce Lightning Experience: Which is Better?

If you are already using Visualforce, it will be a crucial decision for you to move to Lightning Experience. You should consider moving to Lightning Experience as it provides modern features and will get further enhancements in the future. Let’s take a stab at some points why you should move to the Lightning Experience.

• Salesforce Lightning Components is ideal for mobile app development. Every time the mobile user presses a button on the app, it calls the server. Salesforce Lightning can handle this situation more efficiently.
• It is highly recommended to combine the usage of Salesforce Lightning Components and the Salesforce Lightning Experience for the best results.

In the Salesforce Lightning Experience, you can use Screen Flows that help the user through the whole business process. Screen Flow helps to customize the mobile app experience. Using the Lightning App Builder or Developer Console, you can build the app of your choice with the help of custom components as well as standard components.

Summing Up

And that wraps up our exploration of Salesforce Lightning Components for this discussion. We delved into how these components are driving modern Salesforce Lightning Experience technology, empowering the creation of streamlined mobile applications.

We trust that you now have a solid grasp of these concepts and are well-equipped to apply this knowledge to business operations. Should you desire to dive deeper or require additional clarification, we invite you to join our saasguru Slack community. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with industry leaders and seasoned professionals, further enhancing your understanding.

Ready to elevate your journey with Salesforce? Sign up with saasguru today! 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What are the Standard Lightning Components in Salesforce?

Standard Salesforce Lightning Components are pre-built elements provided by Salesforce that can be used to develop applications quickly and efficiently. These components include a wide range of functionalities, from basic UI elements like buttons, inputs, and lists to more complex elements like data tables, record forms, and charts. They are designed to work seamlessly within the Salesforce ecosystem, ensuring a consistent user experience and compatibility across different devices and platforms.

2. How Can I Use Salesforce Lightning Components?

To use Salesforce Lightning Components, follow these steps:

• Access the Lightning App Builder: This tool allows you to drag and drop components to create custom pages in Salesforce.
• Choose the Component: Select from the palette of standard components or custom components that you or others have created.
• Customize the Component: Configure the properties and settings of the component to suit your specific needs.
• Integrate with Data: Bind components with Salesforce data, such as records and objects, to make them dynamic and interactive.
• Preview and Test: Use the preview feature in the App Builder to test how the component behaves and appears in different contexts.
• Deploy: Once satisfied, deploy your page with the components to make them available to users in your Salesforce org.

3. What are the Limitations of Salesforce Lightning Components?

While Salesforce Lightning Components offer powerful capabilities, they also come with certain limitations:

• Browser Compatibility: They rely on modern web standards, which may not be fully supported in older browsers.
• Learning Curve: Developers new to Salesforce or modern web development may face a learning curve.
• Performance Overhead: Complex components or overuse of components on a single page can lead to performance issues.
• Customization Limits: While highly customizable, they still have boundaries defined by Salesforce, limiting how far they can be modified.
• Dependency on Salesforce Platform: Being native to Salesforce, they are not standalone and depend on the Salesforce platform for data and context.

4. How to Create Salesforce Lightning Components?

To create a Salesforce Lightning Component, follow these steps:

• Open Developer Console: In your Salesforce org, open the Developer Console.
• Create New Lightning Component: Navigate to File > New > Lightning Component and give your component a name.
• Write Code: Use HTML for structure, JavaScript (or Apex for server-side operations) for functionality, and CSS for styling.
• Test Component: Test the component in the Developer Console or by using it in the Lightning App Builder.
• Deploy Component: Once tested and finalized, the component can be used in your Salesforce applications or pages.