Troubleshooting Error: "System.LimitException: Too many SOQL queries: 101"

What Does This Error Mean?

If you've encountered the error System.LimitException: Too many SOQL queries: 101, you're not alone. This error commonly occurs in Salesforce development and signifies that you've exceeded the governor limit for SOQL queries. In Salesforce, the limit for synchronous transactions is 100 SOQL queries, while for asynchronous transactions, the limit is 200.

It's important to note that all SOQL queries executed within triggers fired from a single call or context contribute to this limit. Therefore, if your code is running multiple queries within triggers or loops, you may quickly reach this threshold.

How to Avoid This Error

To prevent this error and ensure your code runs efficiently, consider the following best practices:

1. Follow Apex Code Best Practices

Always adhere to the best practices for writing Apex code. This includes optimizing your queries and structuring your code effectively to manage governor limits.

2. Avoid SOQL Queries Inside For Loops

One of the most effective ways to prevent this error is to never place SOQL queries inside for loops. Instead, retrieve all necessary data in a single query and process it using collections. This practice can drastically reduce the number of queries executed.

3. Use @future Annotation for Large Data Sets

If your operation involves processing more than 50,000 records, consider using the @future annotation. This allows your code to run asynchronously, which helps you stay within the governor limits by processing data in batches.

Conclusion

Understanding and managing governor limits is crucial for Salesforce development. By following the recommended best practices, you can avoid the "Too many SOQL queries" error and enhance the performance of your Apex code. Remember to review your code for any potential issues and optimize your queries to ensure smooth execution.