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

SAP Term: reference variable

• Component: BC-ABA

• Component Name: ABAP Runtime Environment

• Description: Data object that contains a reference. We distinguish between data reference variables and object reference variables. Reference variables have a length of 8 bytes and are opaque, that is you cannot access the reference directly. They are typed using the REF TO addition, which defines their static type. The static type must always be more general than or the same as the dynamic type. Refernce semantics apply when assigning between reference variables.

Smart SAP Assistant

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  Key Concepts: 
  A reference variable is a type of variable in SAP's ABAP Runtime Environment (BC-ABA) that stores a reference to an object. It is used to access the object without having to create a new instance of it. 
  
  How to use it: 
  Reference variables are declared using the REF TO statement. The syntax for this statement is REF TO . For example, if you wanted to declare a reference variable for an object of type “MyClass”, you would use the statement REF TO MyClass. 
  
  Tips & Tricks: 
  When declaring a reference variable, make sure that the object type you are referencing is valid. If it is not, your program will not compile. 
  
  Related Information: 
  For more information on reference variables in SAP's ABAP Runtime Environment, please refer to the official SAP documentation at https://help.sap.com/doc/abapdocu_751_index_htm/7.51/en-US/index.htm?file=abenref_variables_references.htm