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

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

From Release 4.6A, types can be described dynamically.

Previously, 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 implemented that enhances the description to include any data types 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 descriptions using type names

tdescr = cl_abap_typedescr=>describe_by_name( name ).

The type description classes contain all of the attributes and methods that can be assigned to the properties of the different types.