Introduction to ABAP CDS Views

In today's world of rapid technological developments, ABAP Core Data Services is a revolutionary tool in SAP Development.
Staying ahead in the rapidly evolving landscape of SAP development means leveraging tools that deliver efficiency, performance and advanced semantics. Enter ABAP Core Data Services (CDS) views, an innovation designed to redefine how data is modeled and consumed in SAP systems. CDS wievs are written using a SQL-like syntax. It is designed for SAP's modern application development.

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What Are ABAP CDS Views?

ABAP CDS views are not your traditional database views. They are a modern approach to data modeling and query execution, designed to operate directly on the application server. With the power of CDS, developers can define database views enriched with annotations, semantics, and metadata. These views are managed at the ABAP layer, making them portable, reusable, and highly optimized for SAP HANA.

Using CDS it is possible to create the following elements and structures:

Views
Annotations
Tables (Entities)
Associations
Contexts
User defined data types

Key Features of ABAP CDS (Core Data Services) Views

Integration with SAP HANA:

Built with SAP HANA in mind, CDS views leverage the in-memory computing power of HANA to deliver high-performance query execution. Complex calculations and aggregations are pushed down to the database layer, reducing data transfer overhead.

Annotations for Enhanced Semantics:

With CDS annotations, developers can embed metadata to define behavior, display properties, and integrate business logic. This adds semantic richness, making it easier to build intelligent applications.

Seamless OData Exposure:

CDS views simplify the creation of OData services, enabling applications to consume SAP data effortlessly. With just a few annotations, a CDS view can be exposed as a RESTful service for external integration.

Extensibility and Reusability:

CDS views support layering and extensibility, allowing developers to reuse existing views and enhance them with additional logic or fields. This promotes modularity and reduces development time.

What Are the Types of ABAP CDS Wievs?

Basic CDS Views

Basic CDS wievs are a type designed to expose master data such as material master data, customer master data, company code, partner, etc. Basic CDS views consume physical SAP tables when reading data.

Composite CDS Views

Composite CDS views represent more complex data structures by combining multiple underlying CDS views. Used to create transactional or reporting data and to extend data models.

Consumption CDS Views

Consumption wievs, the last layer of the CDS analytical model, are the final views ready to be used by UI tools. Fiori Tile, Analysis for Office, etc. and can be accessed by business users in report format. Optimized for reporting and data consumption scenarios.

Why Choose ABAP CDS Views?

Compared to traditional approaches, CDS views are a game-changer:

Performance: By pushing data-intensive operations to the database layer, they reduce network latency and improve query speeds.

Simplified Development: The ability to define views using ABAP syntax reduces complexity and bridges the gap between developers and data modeling experts.

Future-Ready: As SAP transitions to the cloud and S/4HANA, CDS views provide a scalable and sustainable data modeling solution.

The Difference Between ABAP CDS Views and Traditional ABAP Reports

How to Get Started?

Getting started with ABAP CDS views involves:

1) Defining a CDS view using the ABAP Development Tools (ADT) in Eclipse.

2) Using SQL-like syntax to describe the data sources, joins, and fields.

3) Adding annotations to enrich the view with metadata for consumption.

4) Testing the view and optionally exposing it as an OData service.

ABAP CDS views are more than just a tool; they represent a paradigm shift in SAP development. By combining the power of HANA with the flexibility of ABAP, CDS views empower developers to build efficient, scalable, and future-proof applications. Whether you're modernizing legacy systems or starting fresh with S/4HANA, ABAP CDS views should be at the core of your data strategy.

You can contact our SAP ABAP consultants for information about ABAP CDS views and more.

Emrah Tezcan

SAP Fiori Consultant
Emrah Tezcan, who serves as an SAP ABAP & Fiori Consultant at MDP Group, is a highly skilled SAP expert developing enterprise solutions based on ABAP Cloud and the RAP (RESTful ABAP Programming Model) on the S/4HANA architecture. With deep expertise in extensibility approaches aligned with the Clean Core strategy, HANA Output Management, Adobe Forms, and Flexible Workflow processes, Tezcan takes end-to-end responsibility across the entire software development lifecycle (SDLC), from analysis and design to testing/UAT, go-live, and post-production support.