How to differentiate LIST apart from HIERARCHY setting in Apex?

Hi Piyush,

Hierarchical Custom Settings

1. Use this for your most of your VF/Apex config settings for stand alone apps
2. Don’t put in settings which are environment dependent (e.g. if you have separate test server URLs that should be used in Sandbox vs. Production)
3. Definitely, if you are storing User Preferences, Hierarchical is the way to go.

List Custom Settings

1. Use this if you creating config for a common piece of code that appears in different areas of Salesforce
2. Use this when there are environmental differences such as Test server URLs vs. Production server URLs
3. Also can be used as a simple table for frequently used data

Thanks

Hi,

Custom settings are similar to custom objects and enable application developers to create custom sets of data, as well as create and associate custom data for an organization, profile, or specific user. All custom settings data is exposed in the application cache, which enables efficient access without the cost of repeated queries to the database. This data can then be used by formula fields, validation rules, Apex, and the SOAP API.

There are two Types of Custom settings
List Custom Settings : A type of custom setting that provides a reusable set of static data that can be accessed across your organization. If you use a particular set of data frequently within your application, putting that data in a list custom setting streamlines access to it.

Hierarchy Custom Settings : Hierarchy settings allow you to personalize your application for different profiles and/or users. A type of custom setting that uses a built-in hierarchical logic that lets you “personalize” settings for specific profiles or users. The hierarchy logic checks the organization, profile, and user settings for the current user and returns the most specific, or “lowest,” value. In the hierarchy, settings for an organization are overridden by profile settings, which, in turn, are overridden by user settings.

Hope this helps.