What Is the Bulk API in Salesforce?
The Bulk API processes large volumes of Salesforce records asynchronously in batches, which makes it the right interface for loading or extracting hundreds of
Updated 2026-09-09
The Bulk API processes large volumes of Salesforce records asynchronously in batches, which makes it the right interface for loading or extracting hundreds of thousands of rows.
In more detail
You submit a job, upload data in batches, and poll for results rather than waiting on a synchronous response. Bulk API 2.0 simplifies this by handling batching for you.
It consumes far fewer API calls per record than the REST or SOAP APIs, which matters when daily API limits are tight.
Why it matters for admins
- Data migrations and archive jobs are impractical on the synchronous APIs.
- Failed rows come back in an error file, so partial success is normal and must be handled.
- Triggers and flows still fire on bulk loads, so governor limits remain a real constraint.
Frequently asked questions
- When should I use the Bulk API instead of REST?
- Roughly above a few thousand records, or whenever the operation would otherwise consume a large share of the daily API quota.
- Does the Bulk API bypass validation rules?
- No. Validation rules, triggers, and flows all run. Serial versus parallel processing affects locking behaviour, not whether automation executes.
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Related reading
- Admin How-ToHow to Export Salesforce Data to ExcelFour ways to export Salesforce data to Excel or CSV - reports, Data Loader, the Bulk API, and in-browser SOQL export - and when each one is the right choice.
- Admin How-ToHow to Export Salesforce Reports and List ViewsExport a Salesforce report or list view to CSV or Excel, including the size limits each format hits and when to switch to a SOQL export instead.
- Admin How-ToHow to Mass Update Salesforce Records SafelyA safe procedure for mass updating Salesforce records: scope with SOQL, snapshot before, batch the import, and verify after - with the automation traps to check first.
- Admin How-ToHow to Schedule a Recurring Salesforce Data ExportThree ways to get a Salesforce data export on a schedule - the native Weekly Export, a scheduled Bulk API job, and the difference between a backup and a working dataset.