soql to find custom label wher the valuer

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05-09-2025

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SOQL to Find Custom Labels Where the Value Contains a Specific String

Finding custom labels based on their values using SOQL requires a bit of a workaround, as you can't directly query the CustomLabel object's Value field. However, we can achieve this by using the Label field in combination with a LIKE operator. The Label field, while primarily for display purposes, often mirrors the Value field's content, particularly when developers maintain consistent naming conventions. This approach is not guaranteed to work in all instances because the Label and Value fields aren't strictly synchronized.

Understanding the Limitations:

• Inconsistency: The Label and Value fields aren't always identical. A developer might choose different names for display (Label) versus the actual stored value (Value). This means you might miss some labels.
• No Direct Value Query: SOQL doesn't directly allow querying the Value field of the CustomLabel object.

The SOQL Query (Using the Label Field):

This query searches for custom labels where the Label field contains the string "your_search_string". Replace "your_search_string" with the actual text you're looking for.

SELECT Label, Value FROM CustomLabel WHERE Label LIKE '%your_search_string%'

Explanation:

• SELECT Label, Value FROM CustomLabel: This selects the Label and Value fields from the CustomLabel object. Selecting both lets you compare them and see if they match your expectations.
• WHERE Label LIKE '%your_search_string%': This is the crucial part. The LIKE operator with wildcard characters (%) searches for labels containing "your_search_string" anywhere within the label. %your_search_string% finds "your_search_string" anywhere in the Label. your_search_string% finds labels starting with "your_search_string". %your_search_string finds labels ending with "your_search_string".

How to Use:

1. Replace Placeholder: Substitute "your_search_string" with the specific text you need to find within your custom label values. For example, to find labels containing "Account", you'd use:

   SELECT Label, Value FROM CustomLabel WHERE Label LIKE '%Account%'
   

2. Execute the Query: Run this SOQL query in your Salesforce Developer Console, Workbench, or any other tool that allows SOQL execution.

3. Review Results: Examine the results to see if the Label and Value fields match your expectations. If they don't align consistently, you might need to explore alternative strategies or refine your search criteria.

Alternative Approach (Apex):

If the above method proves insufficient, you could consider using Apex to query the CustomMetadataType instead. This provides access to the value directly through SOQL queries, but requires more complex code.

Improving Accuracy (Best Practices):

• Consistent Naming: Encourage developers to maintain consistent naming conventions between Label and Value fields to improve the accuracy of this method.
• Custom Metadata Type: For more robust label management, consider using Custom Metadata Types instead of Custom Labels. Custom Metadata Types offer more flexibility and querying capabilities.

By understanding these limitations and implementing the best practices, you can effectively use SOQL to find custom labels based on the values or at least get a close approximation using the Label field. Remember to always test thoroughly and adapt the query as needed.