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

weak reference - Overview

• Component: BC-ABA

• Component Name: ABAP Runtime Environment

• Description: Reference to an object that does not remain when the garbage collector is executed, in contrast to object references in reference variables. Weak references are represented by objects of the CL_ABAP_WEAK_REFERENCE class. See also soft reference .

weak reference - Details

• 
  Key Concepts: 
  A weak reference is a type of reference in the ABAP Runtime Environment of SAP. It is used to refer to an object without actually having to store the object itself. This allows for more efficient memory usage and faster access to objects. 
  
  How to use it: 
  Weak references are used in the ABAP Runtime Environment when an object needs to be referenced without actually storing the object itself. This is done by creating a reference to the object, which can then be used to access the object without having to store it in memory. 
  
  Tips & Tricks: 
  When using weak references, it is important to remember that they are not permanent and can be changed or deleted at any time. It is also important to ensure that the object being referenced is still valid before attempting to access it. 
  
  Related Information: 
  Weak references are similar to pointers in other programming languages, but they are not the same. Weak references are only available in the ABAP Runtime Environment of SAP and cannot be used in other programming languages.