Getting Started with LWC (Lightning Web Components)

Lightning Web Components (LWC) have become an essential part of the Salesforce ecosystem, enabling developers to create interactive and responsive user interfaces that enhance the user experience. LWC empowers Salesforce administrators and developers to build custom UI components, streamline processes, and provide seamless interactions within the Salesforce platform.

Lightning Web Components leverage the power of standard web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, which makes them accessible to a broader audience of developers. This means that you don't need to learn a proprietary language to build components for Salesforce. Instead, you can utilize your existing web development skills to create Lightning Web Components.

Let's break down how these technologies fit into the development process:

1. HTML (HyperText Markup Language): HTML is used to structure the content of your component. You define the layout and organize your component's elements using HTML tags. In LWC, HTML provides the skeleton of your user interface, including headings, lists, tables, forms, and more.
2. CSS (Cascading Style Sheets): CSS is responsible for styling your Lightning Web Component. You can apply styles to your HTML elements, making them visually appealing and consistent with your Salesforce org's branding. CSS allows you to control colors, fonts, spacing, and layout.
3. JavaScript: JavaScript is the heart of your Lightning Web Component. It enables you to add interactivity and functionality to your components. You can use JavaScript to handle user interactions, fetch data from Salesforce or external sources, perform calculations, and update the component's state in real-time.

I guess it’s enough of the introduction part of LWC, let’s dive into the Hands-On part now,

First thing we need to do is to install SFDX Cli in our system, the link to download it is Salesforce CLI. After installing it in our system with default config, we need to install extension of Salesforce CLI (Salesforce Extension Pack) in our VS Code. After enabling the extension:

1. Need to Authorize our Org, we can press Ctrl + P then need to select the option Authorize my Org.
2. Then will be redirected to Salesforce login page there we need to enter the username and password of our org. Our org will be added to VS Code

Creating Lightning Web Components

After installing Salesforce CLI and Authorizing the Org we need to create Lightning Web Components, for that we need to press Ctrl + P and need to select “Create Project with Manifest” after that we would be able to see a project created inside which we will be able to see different options like LWC, Apex Class, Triggers, etc. We again need to hit Ctrl + P and select “Create Lightning Web Component” after selecting this option we need to name it.

Don't forget to check out: Introduction to Lightning Web Components (LWC): A Beginner’s Guide to Building Dynamic Salesforce User Interfaces

We will be able to see three files created yourComponentName.html, yourComponentName.js and yourComponentName.js-meta.xml.

• yourComponentName.html: This is the HTML file where you define the structure of your component's UI.
• yourComponentName.js: This is the JavaScript file where you implement the logic and functionality of your component.
• yourComponentName.js-meta.xml: This XML file contains metadata information for your component, such as its API version and accessibility settings.

Edit the HTML (yourComponentName.html):

• In the yourComponentName.html file, you define the structure of your component's user interface (UI). You use HTML tags and attributes to create the visual elements, such as buttons, forms, text, and more.
• You can use standard HTML and take advantage of Salesforce-specific Lightning Base Components to build your UI efficiently. Lightning Base Components provide pre-built, customizable components like buttons, input fields, and data tables.
• Customize the HTML to match your design requirements, including layout, styling, and positioning of elements. You can use CSS classes for styling or include external CSS files if needed, which will of the same name as our component name.
• Use Lightning Data Service or JavaScript to bind data from your Salesforce org to the HTML elements to display relevant information dynamically.

Implement the JavaScript Logic (yourComponentName.js):

• In the myComponentName.js file, you implement the logic and functionality of your LWC. This is where you handle user interactions, process data, and make calls to Salesforce APIs or external services.
• You can import JavaScript modules and libraries as needed for your component. Salesforce LWC provides a framework for handling events, managing state, and communicating with the server.
• Respond to user actions, such as button clicks or form submissions, by defining event handlers within the JavaScript file.
• Use the component lifecycle hooks (e.g., connectedCallback, disconnectedCallback, renderedCallback, Navigation Mixin) to perform actions at different stages of the component's lifecycle.

Customize the Metadata (yourComponentName.js-meta.xml):

• The myComponentName.js-meta.xml file contains metadata for your component. It specifies the API version, description, and other configuration settings.
• Ensure that the apiVersion matches the Salesforce API version you are using in your org.
• We need to change the IsExpose tag to “true”. We also need to add Targets where we need to expose our component

yourComponentName-js.meta.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<LightningComponentBundle xmlns="http://soap.sforce.com/2006/04/metadata">
    <apiVersion>57.0</apiVersion>
    <isExposed>true</isExposed>
    <targets>
        <target>lightning__RecordPage</target>
        <target>lightning__AppPage</target>
         <target>lightning__HomePage</target>
         <target>lightningCommunity__Page</target>
    </targets>
</LightningComponentBundle>