What is field symbol in SAP BC-ABA - ABAP Runtime Environment?

SAP Term: field symbol

• Component: BC-ABA

• Component Name: ABAP Runtime Environment

• Description: A symbolic name for a data object to which specific memory areas can be assigned at program runtime. A field symbol can be used as a placeholder for a data object at the operand position. A field symbol is typed either generically or fully. Field symbols are declared using the statement FIELD-SYMBOLS or the declaration operator FIELD-SYMBOL and are assigned memory areas using ASSIGN.

Smart SAP Assistant

• Key Concepts: 
  A field symbol is a placeholder for a field in the ABAP runtime environment. It is used to refer to a field without actually knowing its name or type. Field symbols are used in dynamic programming, where the program does not know the name of the field until runtime. 
  
  How to use it: 
  Field symbols can be used in ABAP programs to refer to fields without knowing their names or types. To use a field symbol, you must first declare it using the DATA statement. Then, you can assign a field to the field symbol using the ASSIGN statement. Finally, you can use the field symbol in your program as if it were a normal field. 
  
  Tips & Tricks: 
  When using field symbols, make sure that you assign the correct type of field to the symbol. If you assign an incompatible type of field, your program may not work correctly. Also, make sure that you use the correct syntax when declaring and assigning fields to symbols. 
  
  Related Information: 
  For more information on field symbols, see SAP Help Portal's article on Field Symbols (https://help.sap.com/doc/abapdocu_751_index_htm/7.51/en-US/abenfield_symbols.htm).