The ABAP Core Data Services (ABAP CDS) are the platform-independent implementation of the general
CDS concept for AS ABAP. The ABAP CDS make it possible to define semantic data models on the central database of the AS ABAP. Unlike the SAP HANA-specific variant
HANA CDS, the ABAP CDS are independent of the database system. The entities of the models defined
in ABAP CDS provide enhanced access functions compared with existing database tables and views defined in ABAP Dictionary, making it possible to optimize Open SQL-based applications. This is particularly clear when an AS ABAP uses a
SAP HANA database, since its in-memory characteristics can be implemented in an optimum manner.
The data models are defined in the form of CDS objects using the data definition language (DDL) and data control language (DCL) provided by ABAP CDS in the
ABAP CDS syntax in
CDS source code. The
CDS objects defined with these languages are integrated into ABAP Dictionary and managed here. Currently, the following CDS objects can be defined here:
CDS data definitions are made using the CDS DDL of the ABAP CDS. They define the following
CDS entities. These units can be accessed as a data type (in ABAP programs) and as a data source (in Open SQL read statements).
CDS access controls are based on CDS roles that are defined in
CDS DCL. When CDS entities that are assigned a CDS role are accessed, additional
access conditions are evaluated by default.
CDS source code can only be programmed in the Eclipse-based
ABAP Development Tools (ADT). The
Data Definition Language (DDL) and the Data Control Language (DCL) use different editors. The ADT documentation describes how these editors are used.
As well as the database-independent ABAP CDS,
HANA CDS are also available as another variant of the
CDS concept. HANA CDS are only available in the
SAP HANA database. Entities of the HANA CDS are not developed with the
ABAP Development Tools (ADT), but with SAP HANA-specific tools, for example, in the SAP HANA studio.
The fact that the ABAP CDS are platform-independent from a functional perspective does not mean that the performance when accessing
CDS entities is the same for all platforms. See the Performance Note.