SFDCWallah

EmailMessage

Purpose:

• The EmailMessage object is used to represent email messages that are part of the Salesforce data model. It stores email records in the system, typically as part of Case or Activity management, but it does not directly send emails.

Use Cases:

• Logging email communications related to cases, leads, opportunities, etc.
• Tracking email interactions within Salesforce.
• Storing inbound and outbound email data.

Capabilities:

• Store detailed information about emails (subject, body, recipients, attachments).
• Relate emails to other Salesforce records (e.g., Cases, Contacts).
• Access via SOQL for reporting and data analysis.

Limitations:

• Does not trigger the sending of emails.
• Primarily used for record-keeping rather than sending emails.

SingleEmailMessage

Purpose:

• The SingleEmailMessage class in Apex is used to send individual emails. It is part of the Messaging namespace in Salesforce and is intended for sending single email messages programmatically.

Use Cases:

• Sending personalized, individual emails to a specific recipient.
• Automated email responses.
• Notifications and alerts.

Capabilities:

• Can send a single email to one or multiple recipients (To, CC, BCC).
• Supports rich text and HTML email bodies.
• Allows for the attachment of files.
• Can be used in triggers, classes, and Visualforce pages.
• Supports template-based emails.

Limitations:

• Sending limits: Salesforce imposes limits on the number of emails that can be sent per day per org.
• Cannot send emails to more than 5,000 recipients in a single invocation.

MassEmailMessage

Purpose:

• The MassEmailMessage class in Apex is designed for sending bulk emails to multiple recipients at once. It is also part of the Messaging namespace and is intended for mass communication.

Use Cases:

• Sending marketing emails to a list of leads or contacts.
• Bulk notifications to users or customers.
• Newsletters and announcements.

Capabilities:

• Can send a single email to a list of up to 5,000 recipients.
• Supports HTML and text email bodies.
• Allows for template-based emails.
• Can be used in Apex to automate mass email sending.

Limitations:

• Similar to SingleEmailMessage, it is subject to daily email limits.
• Less personalized compared to SingleEmailMessage, as it is designed for bulk sending.

Comparison Table

Feature/Capability	EmailMessage	SingleEmailMessage	MassEmailMessage
Purpose	Email record storage	Sending individual emails	Sending bulk emails
Email Sending	No	Yes	Yes
Recipients	Record recipients (logs only)	To, CC, BCC	Up to 5,000 recipients
Email Body	Stores text and HTML	Supports text and HTML	Supports text and HTML
Attachments	Stores attachments	Supports attachments	Does not support attachments
Use Cases	Logging email communications	Personalized notifications	Marketing campaigns, bulk alerts
Limits	N/A	Daily email limits	Daily email limits
Related to Records	Yes	Optional	Optional
Template Support	Yes (for storage)	Yes	Yes
Automation	Record-keeping and workflows	Apex, triggers, workflows	Apex, workflows
API Access	SOQL, DML	Apex	Apex

Summary

• EmailMessage is used for logging and storing email data within Salesforce. It does not send emails but is useful for tracking communication history and associating emails with other Salesforce records.
• SingleEmailMessage is for sending individual, personalized emails programmatically via Apex. It supports rich content, attachments, and templates.
• MassEmailMessage is for sending bulk emails to many recipients at once. It is useful for marketing campaigns and mass notifications but does not support attachments.

By understanding these differences, you can choose the appropriate method or object based on your specific needs in Salesforce.