What is class reference variable in SAP BC-ABA - ABAP Runtime Environment?

SAP Term: class reference variable

• Component: BC-ABA

• Component Name: ABAP Runtime Environment

• Description: Object reference variable of the static type of a class. A class referen ce variable can theoretically be used to access all visible components of an object.

Smart SAP Assistant

• Key Concepts: 
  A class reference variable is a type of variable in SAP's ABAP Runtime Environment (BC-ABA) that is used to refer to an object of a particular class. It is similar to a pointer in other programming languages, but it does not contain the actual data of the object, only a reference to it. 
  
  How to use it: 
  Class reference variables are used to access the methods and attributes of an object without having to create a new instance of the object. This allows for more efficient memory usage and faster execution times. To use a class reference variable, you must first declare it with the CLASS-DATA statement and then assign it to an existing object with the ASSIGN statement. 
  
  Tips & Tricks: 
  When using class reference variables, it is important to remember that they are not the same as regular variables. They cannot be assigned values directly and must always refer to an existing object. Additionally, they cannot be used in arithmetic operations or comparisons. 
  
  Related Information: 
  For more information on class reference variables in SAP's ABAP Runtime Environment, please refer to the official documentation at https://help.sap.com/doc/abapdocu_751_index_htm/7.51/en-US/abenclass_ref_variables.htm