Understanding the Key Differences Between record.submitFields and record.save in NetSuite

Understanding the Key Differences Between record.submitFields and record.save in NetSuite

Hey there, fellow developers! If you’re delving into the world of NetSuite development, you might have stumbled upon the terms record.submitFields and record.save. These could sound pretty technical, but understanding their nuances could seriously rock your coding world. So, what’s the real difference?

Ready, Set, Submit!

Let’s kick things off with record.submitFields. This nifty little function is like the speedster of record updates. Instead of loading every single bit of data from a record into memory, you can just focus on the fields you want to change. You might be asking, "What’s so special about that?" Well, think about it! If you only need to tweak a couple of fields, why waste time and resources loading all the other data?
This function is a lifesaver during those moments when you just need to update a few fields without the heavy lifting of handling the whole record. It's efficient—like running a marathon, but only doing the last mile. You get straight to the good part!

The Whole Enchilada with record.save

Now, let’s switch gears and chat about record.save. When you use this bad boy, it’s all or nothing—the entire record gets loaded into memory. That means if you’ve got a record with a ton of fields, you better have a good reason to save it all. Picture loading an entire library just to read one page of a specific book—kinda overkill, right?
While record.save is essential and has its place, it can feel laggy when you’re only changing the address on a customer record or updating a single field. In short, it’s comprehensive but not always efficient.

Why Use record.submitFields?

So, why would you ever choose record.submitFields over record.save? The answer is performance. When your applications are running at scale, every millisecond counts. Let’s say you’re developing a suite of applications that needs to manage thousands of records in real-time. Utilizing record.submitFields to make small changes on specific fields allows your system to work faster and reduces the burden on your server. It’s all about minimizing that resource usage without compromising functionality.

Bonus Tip: When you save a record using record.save, that entire record is validated against all business rules. Sometimes, that’s what you need, especially when you’re adding new entries. But for those quick updates? Stick with record.submitFields—your system performance will thank you.

A Real-World Example

Imagine you're keeping track of a customer’s order history. If they just called in to change their shipping address, do you really need to revalidate everything about their previous orders? Nope! Using record.submitFields makes that change easy without the hassle of loading a decade’s worth of order data just to make one tweak.

Final Thoughts

Both record.submitFields and record.save play pivotal roles in the world of NetSuite. Understanding when to use one over the other isn't just about memorizing definitions; it's about improving your development workflow and creating software that runs smoothly.
So, the next time you're faced with a record update, remember to pause and consider which method might work best. Choose wisely and keep coding like the rockstar you are!

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P.S. If you’re prepping for that NetSuite Developer II certification, knowing these distinctions will help you tackle related questions with confidence!