ABAP Keyword Documentation →  ABAP − Release-Specific Changes →  Changes in Release 4.6A 

Description of Data and Object Types at Runtime in Release 4.6A

With Release 4.6A types can be described dynamically.

In the past the statement DESCRIBE could only describe some of the ABAP types. With the introduction of ABAP objects, an RTTI concept based on system classes was introduced that enhances the description to include any data and object types at runtime.

Other versions: 7.31 | 7.40 | 7.54

Example for the description of a field

tdescr =  cl_abap_typedescr=>describe_by_data( f ).

Example for the description of a data reference

tdescr ?= cl_abap_typedescr=>describe_by_data_ref( dref ).

Example for the description of an object reference

tdescr ?= cl_abap_typedescr=>describe_by_object_ref( oref ).

Examples for the description using type names

tdescr = cl_abap_typedescr=>describe_by_name( name ).

The description classes contain all the attributes and methods with which the properties of the different types can be parametrized.