How to extract list ids (as well as values) using the Salesforce API?

Question

I am creating a system using PHP that interacts with Salesforce using the API to add bids / quotes to Salesforce after they are completed on the new system. For most fields, this is fine, but I'm trying to figure out how to synchronize selectors between new systems. Although you can use the API to extract picklists from what I see, there is no way to get the base identifier for each selection record.

Ultimately, I need to synchronize the selection list parameters between the two systems, this can be done by synchronizing the values, but as soon as someone changes the value of the picklist field in Salesforce (or adds a new option), then this will no longer correspond to the picklist variables in the external system . Ideally, if we could access the identifiers, then we can use the same list of identifiers / values ​​in the external system and (ideally) select the desired value of the selection list based on the identifier, not the value (which means that even if the value has been slightly changed, will still correspond to the same record). Similarly, we can easily check whether any records have been added / removed so that they can be added / removed from the external system.

I can’t find any links to how this can be done, but I can’t imagine that we are the only ones who want to do this? If this is not possible, then how can I get closer to this using Salesforce, I assume that this is possible anyway?

Greetings

Dave

Answer 1

calling describeSObjects returns metadata about objects and fields, including sample data, both values ​​and labels, this should get everything you need.