CDS APIs
Quick answer
CDS-based APIs embody code-to-data and clean-core: define the model once, expose it as a service, and consume it everywhere.
Key takeaways
- CDS views define rich, reusable data models on HANA (joins, aggregations, associations, annotations).
- The ABAP RESTful Application Programming model (RAP) is the strategic framework: you define behaviour on CDS entities and bind them…
- In modern SAP, CDS is the primary way to build APIs and the data behind Fiori.
- Watch out: Bypassing CDS with hand-built services.
CDS as the API foundation
CDS views define rich, reusable data models on HANA (joins, aggregations, associations, annotations). By annotating a CDS view (or using a RAP service definition/binding), you expose it as an OData API, so the same model powers Fiori, analytics and external integration. This is the modern, low-effort path to SAP APIs.
How it works
@OData.publish: true
define view entity Z_C_SalesOrder as select from I_SalesOrder { ... }
" → generates an OData service consumable by Fiori and integrationsRAP and service binding
The ABAP RESTful Application Programming model (RAP) is the strategic framework: you define behaviour on CDS entities and bind them as OData (V2 or V4) services. This produces robust, transactional APIs for both UIs and integration, aligned with clean-core and cloud.
Why it matters
CDS-based APIs embody code-to-data and clean-core: define the model once, expose it as a service, and consume it everywhere. For modern SAP development and integration, CDS + OData (via RAP) is the standard, and a key skill.
Common pitfalls
- Bypassing CDS with hand-built services.
- Ignoring annotations that generate/shape the API.
- Not using RAP for transactional APIs.
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Check your understanding
Which statement is true of CDS APIs?
- A. Working with IDocs in ABAP means generating, processing and enhancing the intermediate documents SAP uses for…
- B. Methods are the operations of ABAP classes, the callable units of behaviour.
- C. By annotating a CDS view (or using a RAP service definition/binding), you expose it as an OData API, so the…
Show answer
C. By annotating a CDS view (or using a RAP service definition/binding), you expose it as an OData API, so the…
Covered in the “CDS as the API foundation” section of this lesson.
Which of these also applies to CDS APIs?
- A. Learning screens in isolation instead of the flow.
- B. This is the modern, low-effort path to SAP APIs.
- C. Textbook answers without practical grounding.
Show answer
B. This is the modern, low-effort path to SAP APIs.
Covered in the “CDS as the API foundation” section of this lesson.
Which part of the Learn SAP curriculum covers CDS APIs?
- A. SAP security
- B. SAP HANA
- C. SAP APIs
Show answer
C. SAP APIs
This lesson sits in the SAP APIs section of the Learn SAP course.