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Named credentials in salesforce

Named credentials provide a configuration option for organizations to set up external endpoints and their authentication in Salesforce. They can handle authentication for external endpoints, thereby reducing the need for extensive Apex code in API integrations.

When endpoint changes are necessary, named credentials can be updated without requiring a code deployment.

Overview

How to set up named / external credentials in salesforce

The first step before configuring named credentials is to create an External Credential. External credentials specify how salesforce authenticate with external system.

The authentication process is handled by the platform and no need to add apex code. Following are the authentication protocols supported by the platform.

authentication methods for external credentials in salesforce

To set up new external credentials, navigate to set up -> named credentials and click on external credentials tab then click 'New'

Setting up new external credentials

Once external credentials are set up, setting up named credentials is quite is easy.

Navigate to set up -> named credentials and click 'New'

setting up named credentials in salesforce

And click save

Using named credentials in apex

Once named credentials are configured, they can be used directly in apex. The following is a quick example of how to invoke a callout from apex using named credentials.


HttpRequest req = new HttpRequest();
req.setEndpoint('callout:AWSS3Credentials/my_custom_bucket');
req.setMethod('GET');
Http http = new Http();
HTTPResponse res = http.send(req);
System.debug(res.getBody());

Here 'AWSS3Credentials' is our named credentials which points to the base url of our external service and we are accessing a custom bucket ('my_custom_bucket') from this endpoint.

Advantages

  • Easy to maintain

    Named credentials store the endpoint and authentication for an external service. If the endpoint is changed, the code referencing the credentials doesn't require any modification, only the endpoint needs an update.

  • Secure credentials

    The credentials for your external authentication are kept secure when using named credentials, eliminating the need to share credentials with developers for implementing API integrations.

    By using external credentials, permission sets can be assigned to named credentials, ensuring that only authorized users are permitted to make external callouts from their logins.

  • Remote site settings

    Named credentials do not require remote site settings. The platform will automatically bypass the endpoints when making a callout.

  • Authentication

    The platform handles the authentication for named credentials, eliminating the need for custom code to manage authentication for the service.

Conclusion

Named credentials in Salesforce simplify external integrations, offering a centralized and secure way to configure endpoints and authentication. The apex API integration can take advantages such as secure credential storage, permission set assignments, no remote site settings by using named credentials.

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