SOQL Query for Querying Apex Classes

In Salesforce, Apex Classes are stored as metadata, and Salesforce exposes them through the ApexClass object. Using SOQL, you can query information about Apex Classes, such as their name, status, API version, and even the full source code body (only in certain tools).

This guide covers:

✔ Basic SOQL queries

✔ Advanced queries (search text inside class body)

✔ Queries for status, API version, namespace

✔ Test coverage queries

✔ Permission queries (profile & permission set access)

✔ Apex examples using these SOQL queries

✅ 1. Basic SOQL Query to Retrieve Apex Classes

To fetch all Apex classes:

SELECT Id, Name 
FROM ApexClass

This retrieves:

• Id — unique identifier
• Name — class name

Useful when listing classes or identifying them for metadata operations.

✅ 2. Query Apex Class With API Version, Status, Namespace

SELECT Id, Name, ApiVersion, Status, NamespacePrefix 
FROM ApexClass

Fields explanation:

• ApiVersion → API version of the class
• Status → Active, Deleted, InDevelopment
• NamespacePrefix → For managed packages

This is useful when cleaning old code, analyzing package classes, or reviewing API usage.

✅ 3. Query the Full Apex Class Code (Body)

⚠ Allowed ONLY in:

• Developer Console
• Workbench
• VS Code using Salesforce Extensions
• API tools

❌ Not allowed inside Apex code (for security reasons).

SELECT Id, Name, Body 
FROM ApexClass
WHERE Name = 'YourClassName'

This returns the entire Apex class code as text.

✅ 4. Find Apex Classes Containing Specific Text

Example: Find all classes using SOQL, Account, HttpCallout, etc.

SELECT Id, Name 
FROM ApexClass
WHERE Body LIKE '%Account%'

This is extremely useful when:

• refactoring code
• finding classes using deprecated fields
• tracking business logic
• searching for hard-coded values

✅ 5. Query Apex Classes by Status

SELECT Id, Name, Status 
FROM ApexClass
WHERE Status = 'Active'

Possible status values:

• Active
• InDevelopment
• Deleted

Useful for identifying inactive or removed classes.

✅ 6. Query Apex Classes by API Version

SELECT Id, Name, ApiVersion 
FROM ApexClass
WHERE ApiVersion < 55.0

Use case:

• Find old classes that need API version updates
• Ensure Lightning-compatible API versions
• Prepare for Salesforce releases

✅ 7. Query Apex Class Test Coverage

Test coverage is stored in the object ApexCodeCoverageAggregate.

SELECT ApexClassOrTriggerId, NumLinesCovered, NumLinesUncovered 
FROM ApexCodeCoverageAggregate

To join with the class name:

SELECT ApexClassOrTrigger.Name,
       NumLinesCovered,
       NumLinesUncovered
FROM ApexCodeCoverageAggregate

You can calculate coverage percentage:

Coverage % = (NumLinesCovered / (NumLinesCovered + NumLinesUncovered)) * 100

Use case:

• CI/CD validation
• Deployment readiness
• Coverage reports

✅ 8. Query Apex Class Permissions (Who Has Access)

To check which Profiles or Permission Sets have been granted access to the class:

SELECT Id, Parent.Name, Parent.Profile.Name, SetupEntityId
FROM SetupEntityAccess
WHERE SetupEntityType = 'ApexClass'

To join with ApexClass:

SELECT SetupEntityId,
       SetupEntity.Name,
       Parent.Profile.Name
FROM SetupEntityAccess
WHERE SetupEntityType = 'ApexClass'

Use case:

• Fix “No access to Apex Class” errors
• Validate security for managed classes
• Ensure correct access for integrations

✅ 9. Apex Code Example: Querying Apex Classes Using SOQL

Although you cannot query Body in Apex, you can query basic metadata.

public class ApexClassInfoService {

    public static void printClassDetails() {

        List<ApexClass> classList = [
            SELECT Id, Name, ApiVersion, Status
            FROM ApexClass
            WHERE Name LIKE 'MyClass%'
        ];

        for (ApexClass ac : classList) {
            System.debug('Class Name: ' + ac.Name);
            System.debug('API Version: ' + ac.ApiVersion);
            System.debug('Status: ' + ac.Status);
        }
    }
}

✅ 10. Apex Code Example: Create a Dynamic Class Search Tool

public class ApexClassSearch {

    public static List<ApexClass> searchClasses(String searchKey) {
        return [
            SELECT Id, Name, ApiVersion, Status
            FROM ApexClass
            WHERE Name LIKE :('%' + searchKey + '%')
        ];
    }

}

Call it:

ApexClassSearch.searchClasses('Trigger');

📝 Summary Note (Copy-Friendly)

SOQL supports querying Apex Class metadata through the ApexClass object. This object contains details such as the class name, Id, API version, namespace, status, and (when queried using supported tools) the actual class code. With SOQL, developers can inspect class properties, search for code patterns, identify classes by API version, analyze outdated code, and troubleshoot Apex access issues.

Salesforce stores Apex test coverage in ApexCodeCoverageAggregate, which can be queried to determine lines covered and uncovered. This is essential for deployment validation and code quality analysis. Additionally, class access permissions can be queried through SetupEntityAccess, allowing developers to check which profiles or permission sets grant access to a specific Apex class—useful for resolving “No access to Apex Class” errors.

While the Body field can only be queried using tools like Developer Console, VS Code, or Workbench (and not Apex code), the ApexClass object still provides valuable insights. Combining these SOQL queries enables deep analysis, refactoring, debugging, and optimizing Salesforce orgs at scale.