What type of query does the search() method execute?

The search() method in Salesforce is specifically designed to execute a SOSL (Salesforce Object Search Language) query. SOSL is a powerful search language that allows users to retrieve records from one or more objects, focusing on keywords and text searches across multiple objects. The search() method provides a way to search across all searchable fields, making it ideal for scenarios where comprehensive keyword searches are needed.

Using SOSL, you can search for specific terms across multiple items in Salesforce, such as finding accounts, contacts, or any other records that match the search criteria. This capability is particularly useful in applications where user input needs to be matched against a wide array of records concurrently, ensuring broad coverage in search results.

While other query types like SOQL (Salesforce Object Query Language), REST and GraphQL queries serve different purposes within Salesforce's ecosystem, they are not executed by the search() method. SOQL is designed for querying specific records from a single object or related objects, while REST and GraphQL queries pertain to different protocols for data manipulation, neither possessing the broad search capabilities inherent to SOSL.