ABAP Keyword Documentation → ABAP - Reference → Declarative statemnts → Classes and Interfaces → Components in Classes and Interfaces → Methods → METHODS
METHODS - parameters
Other versions: 7.31 | 7.40 | 7.54
Syntax
... { VALUE(p1) | REFERENCE(p1) | p1 }
typing [OPTIONAL|{DEFAULT def1}]
{ VALUE(p2) | REFERENCE(p2) | p2 }
typing [OPTIONAL|{DEFAULT def2}]
... .
Effect
Definition of formal parameters p1 p2 ... for methods.
Use VALUE or REFERENCE to determine whether a parameter p1 p2 ... is passed by
value or by
reference. If only
one name p1 p2 ... is specified, the parameter is by default passed by reference. An input parameter passed by reference must not be changed in the method.
With addition typing, every formal parameter must be typed. The syntax of typing is described in
Typing Syntax. The typing of a formal parameter has the effect that when an actual parameter is passed, its data type is
checked against the typing. In addition, the typing determines at which operand positions the formal parameter can be used in the method.
Use OPTIONAL or DEFAULT to define input parameters
and input/output parameters as optional parameters, where you can use DEFAULT
to specify a replacement parameter def1 def2 .... For an optional parameter,
you need not specify an actual parameter in the method call. While a formal parameter with the addition
OPTIONAL is initialized according to its type, a formal parameter with addition
DEFAULT copies the value and type of the replacement parameter def1
def2 .... As a replacement parameter def1 def2 ..., you can specify any appropriate data object that is visible at this position except for components of
Boxed Components.
If no actual parameter is specified for a generically typed formal parameter with the OPTIONAL addition at the time of the call, the type of the formal parameter is completed according to
fixed rules.