Introduction

Email communication is a core part of almost every Salesforce implementation. Whether it is sending invoices, order confirmations, case updates, or notifications, Salesforce applications frequently need to send emails automatically or on user action.

Visualforce plays an important role in this process by providing dynamic email templates and user-driven actions. By combining Visualforce with Apex, developers can send highly customized, data-driven emails that meet real-world business requirements.

Ways to Send Email Using Visualforce

In Salesforce, emails can be sent using Visualforce in the following ways:

● Using Visualforce Email Templates
● Sending email through Apex
● Triggering email on button click
● Sending email with attachments (PDF, files)

Using Visualforce Email Template to Send Email

Visualforce Email Templates are commonly used for sending formatted and dynamic emails.

● Uses <messaging:emailTemplate>
● Supports Apex controllers
● Allows HTML formatting
● Used in real projects

Real Project Scenario

Business Requirement

When a customer places an order, the system should send an order confirmation email with order details automatically.

Step 1: Create Apex Controller

This controller prepares order data for the email.

public class OrderEmailController {
    public Order__c orderRec { get; set; }

    public OrderEmailController() {
        orderRec = [
            SELECT Name, Amount__c, Account__r.Name
            FROM Order__c
            WHERE Id = :ApexPages.currentPage().getParameters().get('id')
        ];
    }
}

Step 2: Create Visualforce Email Template

<messaging:emailTemplate 
    subject="Order Confirmation - {!orderRec.Name}"
    recipientType="Contact"
    relatedToType="Order__c"
    controller="OrderEmailController">

    <messaging:htmlEmailBody>

        <h2>Order Confirmation</h2>

        <table border="1" cellpadding="5">
            <tr>
                <td><b>Order Number</b></td>
                <td>{!orderRec.Name}</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td><b>Customer</b></td>
                <td>{!orderRec.Account__r.Name}</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td><b>Total Amount</b></td>
                <td>{!orderRec.Amount__c}</td>
            </tr>
        </table>

        <p>Thank you for your order.</p>

    </messaging:htmlEmailBody>
</messaging:emailTemplate>

Step 3: Send Email Using Apex

In real projects, emails are sent using Messaging.SingleEmailMessage.

Messaging.SingleEmailMessage mail = new Messaging.SingleEmailMessage();
mail.setTargetObjectId(contactId);
mail.setWhatId(orderId);
mail.setTemplateId(templateId);
mail.setSaveAsActivity(true);

Messaging.sendEmail(
    new Messaging.SingleEmailMessage[] { mail }
);

Explanation (Exam + Real-Time)

●  setTargetObjectId defines the recipient
●  setWhatId links related record
●  setTemplateId uses VF Email Template
● Email content is generated dynamically
● Same code works for all records

Sending Email on Button Click Using VF

Visualforce pages can trigger email sending on user action.

Example Use Case

● User clicks “Send Email” button
● Apex method executes
● Email is sent immediately

This is common in approval or manual notification scenarios.

Sending Email with PDF Attachment

In real projects, VF PDFs are often attached to emails.

● VF page rendered as PDF
● PDF attached using Apex
● Email sent to customer

Common examples include invoices and receipts.

Governor Limits for Sending Email

Salesforce enforces limits on email sending.

● Daily email limits apply
● Attachment size limits exist
● Bulk emails must be optimized

Developers must design email logic carefully.

Common Use Cases

Sending email using Visualforce is used for:

● Order confirmation
● Invoice delivery
● Case resolution notifications
● Approval emails
● Payment reminders

Security Considerations

When sending emails:

● Validate recipient access
● Enforce object and field security
● Avoid exposing sensitive data
● Control automation triggers

Common Mistakes Developers Make

● Forgetting to set target object
● Using wrong template type
● Sending emails inside loops
● Ignoring governor limits

Best Practices

Follow these best practices in real projects:

● Use VF Email Templates for complex emails
● Optimize Apex logic
● Avoid hardcoding IDs
● Test email content thoroughly
● Handle exceptions properly

Exam Key Points to Remember

● Emails are sent using Apex
● Messaging.SingleEmailMessage is used
● VF Email Templates support controllers
● Used for dynamic email content

Conclusion

Sending email using Visualforce and Apex is a powerful capability in Salesforce that enables dynamic, automated, and scalable communication. By combining Visualforce Email Templates with Apex email services, developers can meet both exam requirements and real-world enterprise needs effectively.

VF Page Beginner to Advance

Sending Email Using Visualforce