ABAP Keyword Documentation → ABAP − Reference → Declarations → Declaration Statements → Field Symbols
FIELD-SYMBOLS
Other versions: 7.31 | 7.40 | 7.54
Syntax
FIELD-SYMBOLS <fs> {
typing | obsolete_typing }.
Addition
Effect
The statement FIELD-SYMBOLS declares a
field symbol <fs>. The
naming conventions apply to the name fs.
The angle brackets of the field symbols distinguish them from data objects and are obligatory. Field symbols can be declared in any
procedure and in the global
declaration part of an ABAP program, but not in the declaration part of a class or an interface. A field symbol can be used in any operand position in which it is visible and which matches the
typing defined using typing.
A field symbol is initial directly after its declaration (with the exception of
obsolete typings without an explicit type)
, which means that it does not reference a memory area. A memory area must be assigned to it (normally
using the statement ASSIGN) before it can be used as an operand. Otherwise an exception is raised.
Notes
-
An inline declaration
of field symbols can be made using the declaration operator
FIELD-SYMBOL. -
The angle brackets are a part of the name, which means that a field symbol could potentially be called
<>(but this is not recommended).
Addition
... typing
Effect
The addition typing is used to type the field symbol. The syntax of typing is described under
Typing. The typing specifies which memory areas
can be assigned to the field symbol and in which operand positions it can be used.
Note
Alongside the typings that use typing,
an obsolete typing obsolete_typing is also possible (outside of methods).
Example
Types a field symbol <itab> as an internal table and a field symbol <wa> with a fully generic type.
FIELD-SYMBOLS: <itab> TYPE ANY TABLE,
<wa> TYPE any.
...
ASSIGN <itab>[ KEY primary_key ('...') = '...' ] TO <wa>.