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Jyoti NavaleJyoti Navale 

When to use RestRequest/RestResponse and when to use HttpResuest/HttpResponse?

When to use RestRequest/RestResponse and when to use HttpResuest/HttpResponse?

I am learning REST in Saleforce. I know there are methods like GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE.
I have written a code for this (actually taken an example from a help page from Salesforce)

@RestResource(urlMapping='/FieldCases/*')
global with sharing class myRESTCaseController {
    // create  new case : POST method to create
    @HttpPost   
    global static String createNewCase(String companyName, String caseType) {
        System.debug('COMPANY: '+companyName);
        System.debug('CASE TYPE: '+caseType);
        
        List<Account> company = [Select ID, Name, Email__c, BillingState from Account where Name = :companyName];
        List<Support_Member__c> support;
        
        if(company.size() > 0) {
            support = [SELECT ID, User__c, Name, User__r.Email from Support_Member__c WHERE Support_State__c = :company[0].BillingState LIMIT 1];
        }
        List<Support_Documentation__c> doc = [SELECT ID from Support_Documentation__c WHERE Type__c = :caseType ORDER BY CreatedDate ASC LIMIT 1];
        
        if(company.size() == 0 || support.size() == 0 || doc.size() == 0) {
            return 'No support data exists for this problem';
        }
        
        Case c = new Case();
        c.OwnerId = support[0].User__c;
        c.AccountId = company[0].Id;
        c.Subject = caseType + ' for '+companyName;
        c.Status = 'Open';
        insert c;
        
        //sendEmail(companyName, company[0].Email__c, doc[0].Id, support[0].Name, support[0].User__r.Email);
        
        return 'Submitted case to '+support[0].Name+' for '+companyName+'.  Confirmation sent to '+company[0].Email__c;
    }
    
    // delete an old case : DELETE method used
    @HttpDelete
    global static String deleteOldCases() {
        String companyName = RestContext.request.params.get('companyName');
        Account company = [ Select ID, Name, Email__c, BillingState from Account where Name = :companyName];
        
        List<Case> cases = [SELECT Id, Subject, Status, OwnerId, Owner.Name from Case WHERE AccountId =: company.Id AND Status = 'Closed'];
        delete cases;
        
        return 'Closed Cases Deleted';
    }
    
    
    // update a case : PATCH method used for updation
    @HttpPatch
    global static String updateCase(String caseId, String caseStatus, String caseNote) {
        Case companyCase = [SELECT Id, Subject, Status, Description from Case WHERE Id =: caseId];
        
        companyCase.Status = caseStatus;
        companyCase.Description += '/n/n';
        companyCase.Description += caseNote;
        update companyCase;
        
        return 'Case Updated';
    }
    
    // updates a case : PUT method used to update/insert
    @HttpPut
    global static String updateCase() {
        RestRequest req;
        String companyName = req.params.get('companyName');
        Account company = [ Select ID, Name, Type, BillingState from Account where Name = :companyName];

        Attachment a = new Attachment();
        a.ParentId = company.Id;
        a.Name = 'test.png';
        a.Body = req.requestBody;
        
        insert a;
        
        return 'Attachment added';
    }
    
    // get Open case : GET method to get records
    @HttpGet
    global static List<Case> getOpenCases() {
        String companyName = RestContext.request.params.get('companyName');
        Account company = [ Select ID, Name, Email__c, BillingState from Account where Name = :companyName];
        
        List<Case> cases = [SELECT Id, Subject, Status, OwnerId, Owner.Name from Case WHERE AccountId =: company.Id];
        return cases;
        
    }
}

I want to know how to call these methods?
I suppose I can call them from cURL....if so how?
Currently I am trying to call them from Anonymous window of developer Console like this:
String companyName = 'Edge Communications';
String caseType = 'Electrical';


Http http = new Http();
//HttpRequest request = new HttpRequest(); // http format
RestRequest request = RestContext.Request; // rest format***


request.setEndpoint('https://instance.salesforce.com/services/apexrest/FieldCase?');

// calling method
request.setMethod('POST');

// pass parameteres : POST method
request.setBody('companyName='+EncodingUtil.urlEncode(companyName, 'UTF-8')+'&caseType='+EncodingUtil.urlEncode(caseType, 'UTF-8'));

// header params
request.setHeader('Authorization', 'Bearer '+userinfo.getSessionId());
request.setCompressed(true);

// response
//HttpResponse response = http.send(request);
RestResponse response = RestContext.response;***

System.debug('Request : '+request.toString());
System.debug('Response : '+response.getBody());

And I am getting error like this :
"
Response : [{"errorCode":"UNSUPPORTED_MEDIA_TYPE","message":"Content-Type header specified in HTTP request is not supported: application/x-www-form-urlencoded"}]
"

Now my concern is....when can I use RestRequest/RestResponse and when to use HttpResuest/HttpResponse?...Any help?
Surya KiranSurya Kiran
Hi Jyoti,

RestRequest/Response can be used to expose your Apex methods as Rest service. Now external application can access apex rest services by using HttpRequest/HttpResponse (Http Callouts).

You can write HttpRequest/HttpResponse in apex to call external applications by specifying their End Point URL.

add Adanced Rest Client to Chrome browser. It will helfs you to test Rest applications.

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/advanced-rest-client/hgmloofddffdnphfgcellkdfbfbjeloo

Ex:
1. Calling external Rest services from Salesforce :
Http http = new Http();
HttpRequest req = new HttpRequest();
req.setEndpointURL('https://www.sampleurl');
req.setHeader('set properties');
2.Exposing Apex methods to rest service :(now external applications can access salesforce services by using HttpRequest/HttpResponse)


Regards,
Surya
AshwaniAshwani
1) RestRequest and RestResponse sre inbound call-out handlers which means if any GET, POST request is namde to your Salesforce environment from a external system then these Context variable are used to identify the request and response accordingly to that external system.

Reference: https://www.salesforce.com/us/developer/docs/apexcode/Content/apex_methods_system_restcontext.htm

2) HttpRequest/HttpResponse are like outbound callers which is opposite to point #1. This callout from Salesforce environment to external system and external system handles that request and provide resposne to Salesforce environmen.

Reference: http://www.salesforce.com/us/developer/docs/apexcode/Content/apex_classes_restful_http.htm

Solution:

Put following line also with other request headers:

request.setHeader('Content-Type', 'application/json');



or

request.setHeader('content-type', 'application/json');