---
schema_version: "1"
id: e01ecec64f9ef41b712499a223ad1eb6d4fb38c77169f20b4daf4b4abf2ef0a5
title: template generate apex class
collection: developer
version: current
locale: en-us
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canonical_url: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/salesforce-cli-reference/guide/cli_reference_template_generate_apex_class.html
source_site: developer.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 0c67f210aec46f9a3de64264da044a5d41c463c63ea211691db52af88eb15366
products:
- Salesforce CLI Command Reference
- salesforcedx
---
# template generate apex class
Generate an Apex class.
## Description for template generate apex class
Generates the Apex *.cls file and associated metadata file. These files must be contained in a parent directory called "classes" in your package directory. Either run this command from an existing directory of this name, or use the --output-dir flag to generate one or point to an existing one.
## Aliases for template generate apex class
`force:apex:class:create`
`apex:generate:class`
## Flags
| Flag Name (Long) | Flag Name (Short) | Description |
|------------------|-------------------|-------------|
| ‑‑api‑version | N/A | **Type:** Value
Override the api version used for api requests made by this command |
| ‑‑flags‑dir | N/A | **Type:** Value
Import flag values from a directory. |
| ‑‑json | N/A | **Type:** Boolean
Format output as json. |
| ‑‑name | ‑n | **Type:** Value
**Required**
Name of the generated Apex class.
The name can be up to 40 characters and must start with a letter. |
| ‑‑output‑dir | ‑d | **Type:** Value
**Default value:** `.`
Directory for saving the created files.
The location can be an absolute path or relative to the current working directory. The default is the current directory. |
| ‑‑template | ‑t | **Type:** Value
**Valid Values:** `ApexException`, `ApexUnitTest`, `BasicUnitTest`, `Batchable`, `DefaultApexClass`, `InboundEmailService`, `Queueable`
**Default value:** `DefaultApexClass`
Template to use for file creation.
Supplied parameter values or default values are filled into a copy of the template. |
## Examples for template generate apex class
Generate two metadata files associated with the MyClass Apex class (MyClass.cls and MyClass.cls-meta.xml) in the current directory:
```shell
sf template generate apex class --name MyClass
```
Similar to previous example, but generates the files in the "force-app/main/default/classes" directory:
```shell
sf template generate apex class --name MyClass --output-dir force-app/main/default/classes
```