ApexIntermediatedeletecascadedata
Architect delete and cascade behavior in Apex integrations
Real World Scenario
External MDM sends delete events but Salesforce lookup restrictions block Account deletion with open Cases.
Expected Answer
• Soft delete pattern with Active__c flag instead of hard delete
• Cascade rules documented per object relationship
• Integration maps delete to deactivate plus case closure workflow
• Batch purge true deletes after retention period
• Trigger on delete for audit trail to Big Object
• Test undelete scenarios if using recycle bin
Follow-Up Questions & Answers
Click to expand — each follow-up includes a direct, interview-ready answer
Direct answer: Soft delete pattern with Active__c flag instead of hard delete Also consider: Cascade rules documented per object relationship In practice: Integration maps delete to deactivate plus case closure workflow Balance speed of delivery with maintainability.
Architect Perspective
Enterprise deletes are workflows—rarely mirror simple SQL CASCADE.