Salesforce Metadata and Metadata API

 

Metadata :

--> Metadata represents all the configurations in your org (like objects, tabs, classes etc).

--> These metadata configurations are also called metadata components.

--> Any time you make a configuration in Salesforce, via the UI or any other way, an equivalent metadata plain text file is created in the background.

--> Most metadata components use xml as the file type.

--> XML (Extensible Markup language) is a text-based language that is used to identify, organize and migrate metadata components.

--> when working with XML and Salesforce metadata, you identify specific components in the XML file.

 

Metadata API :

--> The main purpose of Metadata API is to move metadata between Salesforce orgs during the development process.

--> Use metadata API to deploy, retrieve, create ,update or delete customization, such as custom object definitions and page layouts.

--> Metadata API doesn't work directly with business data.

--> To create, retrieve, update or delete records such as accounts or leads, use SOAP API or REST API.