How to make use of the next generation of database views

CDS (Core Data Services) refers to a semantically rich data definition language made by SAP. CDS views are used for defining and consuming data models on a database, instead of using an application server.

As a platform, CDS view can be used for creating data models using which data can easily be transferred across applications. CDS views are the next generation of database views and they have gone beyond the limited capability of database views. Using the vast capability of SAP HANA database, CDS view SAP can push the code from application to database layer.

In a nutshell, CDS view is an important technology used for development of modern applications on SAP systems. With CDS view SAP, developers can create rich data models which can be used by applications by clients.

SAP HANA is an advanced, next generation business suite based on CDS (Core Data Services) in the form of a Virtual Data Model (VDM). There are many advantages of CDS views, including:

● Rich in features as compared to conventional SE11 views.

● Can be accessed using the native SAP applications.

● Supports automatic client publishing

● Can be used for pushing ODATA services directly with annotations

● All the computations and calculations occur on the DB layer, instead of fetching the data to the application server and then processing it.

● Can support automatic client handling.

● Can support aggregation and numeric functions.

What is SAP CDS and how does it work?

SAP CDS is an infrastructure used for data modelling which enables defining and configuring data models on the database server instead of the application server. This way, the powerful in-memory database of the SAP HANA can be used to fulfil fast, time-consuming operations and calculations at the database level, enabling users to cut down time and resources required for execution.

Fundamentally, CDS view SAP performs a code-to-data operation, by picking the logic from an application and then executes it on the database, instead of the application server.

Broadly, there are two types of CDS views, namely HANA CDS and ABAP CDS view. Compared to the latter, the former supports conceptual data modelling, relationship definitions and built-in functions. This streamlines the consumption of data models without having to understand what technology was used in building those models.

As an infrastructure layer, CDS enables developers to build semantically rich data models which are ready with predefined entity types such as orders, products or partners and also utilises the semantic relationship between them.