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Data Types and Data Objects
Together with classes and objects, data types and data objects are the essentials of ABAP programming.
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A data type describes a data object, just as a class describes an object. In this sense, a data type
is comparable with a class without methods. ABAP interprets the content of a data object in accordance
with its data type. Data types exist either bound as a property of data objects or independently. Independent
data types can be defined either in ABAP Dictionary or using the TYPES statement in an ABAP program.
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A data object is an instance of a data type, just as an object is an instance of a class. It exists
in the internal session of an ABAP program or as a shared object in the shared memory and occupies memory
there for the contained data. A data object is generated either implicitly when a program or procedure
is loaded (named data object), or by using the CREATE DATA statement (anonymous data object). Named data objects are either variables
(DATA, CLASS-DATA statements, and so on) or constants (CONSTANTS statement).
A data type describes the technical properties of a data object (for example, the elementary types it
is comprised of, its length) and semantic properties (what type of entity is represented by the data
object). Types that are defined in ABAP dictionary have additional properties, for example for input/output on a classic dynpro or in Web Dynpro.
As far as the ABAP runtime environment is concerned, only the technical properties of a data object
are of interest for program execution. However, the semantic information, which is linked to the appropriate
use of types, is essential for the legibility of the source code. For this reason, some of the rules covered in this section could also fall under the heading
Structure and Style,
since this covers not only robustness, but also good style, which, although it does not affect program execution, is nevertheless significant for readability and maintainability.
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Bound and Standalone Data Types
Declaration of Data Types and Constants
Declaration of Variables
Inline Declarations
Including Structures
Using Types
Reference to Data Types or Data Objects
Table Work Areas
Literals
Strings
Start Values
Data Objects for Logic Values