Understanding the Basics of ABAP

ABAP is a programming language developed by SAP for the development of business applications in the SAP environment.

Watch this video to know how ABAP has evolved over the years.

Each ABAP program has the program attribute "ABAP language version", which is defined internally by a version ID. The version of a program determines which language elements and which repository objects can be used in the program and which syntax rules apply. The following versions are currently available:

Standard ABAP

This version of ABAP is the universal basic version. It is an unrestricted ABAP language version that covers the entire language scope of ABAP that can be used in Unicode systems and, apart from the static package concept, access to all other repository objects is allowed. The syntax check for Standard ABAP is performed as Unicode check, which is the minimum requirement for a Unicode system.

ABAP for Key Users

This version of ABAP is intended for the secure implementation of enhancements by key users within the scope of enhancement options provided by SAP. ABAP for Key Users is a restricted ABAP language version where the general rules for Standard ABAP apply but only a very restricted set of language elements is supported and access to repository objects is restricted.

ABAP for Cloud Development

This version of ABAP is intended for developments in the SAP BTP ABAP environment and in the S/4HANA Cloud ABAP environment. ABAP for Cloud Development is a restricted ABAP language version where the general rules for Standard ABAP apply but only a restricted set of language elements is supported and access to repository objects is restricted.

Note

This course gives a universal introduction to ABAP development. It restricts itself to syntax elements and language features available in all three language versions. An exception is the introduction to the ABAP RESTful Application Programming Model which is not part of ABAP for key users.

The ABAP for Cloud Development language version is a key element of ABAP Cloud. The technological core of ABAP Cloud defines the design-time and runtime architecture of all extensions, services, and applications. The main ABAP Cloud elements are:

• ABAP for Cloud Development as the cloud-optimized ABAP language for the business logic

• ABAP Development Tools for Eclipse as the ABAP integrated development environment

• ABAP Core Data Services (CDS) for the data model and for embedded analytics

• The ABAP RESTful Application Programming Model for building apps and services

• Mandatory public SAP APIs and extension points to allow automated cloud operations and lifecycle stable extensibility.

Using ABAP Cloud is mandatory on the SAP Business Technology Platform and on SAP S/4HANA Cloud, public edition. It is not mandatory but strongly recommended to follow the principles of ABAP Cloud on SAP S/4HANA, private edition and in on-premise systems. By implementing your custom development with ABAP Cloud, your developments are cloud ready by default and you are not changing the composition of the core system, which is an important principle for system maintenance in the cloud environment (Clean Core approach).

Let's look at some basic features of the ABAP language.

Watch this video to see some code examples that illustrate some of the basic features of the ABAP programming language.

Watch this video to learn about comments in ABAP.