What are Field Symbols used for in ABAP?

Field Symbols in ABAP serve as a powerful tool that allows developers to create dynamic references to data objects. When you declare a Field Symbol, you are essentially establishing a placeholder that can point to different data objects (like variables or database fields) at runtime. This dynamic nature is particularly useful in scenarios where the structure of data might change at runtime or when you need to manipulate data without having to declare multiple variables.

By using Field Symbols, you can achieve more efficient data handling and processing, as they avoid the overhead of copying data. Instead of making copies, a Field Symbol allows direct access to the original data object, which can lead to performance improvements especially in large data sets.

Field Symbols also facilitate the writing of generic code, allowing for more flexible and reusable routines by operating on different types of data with little effort. This capability enhances the adaptability of code based on varying application contexts while simplifying data manipulation tasks.

In summary, the ability of Field Symbols to act as dynamic placeholders for accessing different data objects is the key aspect of their utility in ABAP programming. By leveraging this feature, developers can write more efficient, flexible, and maintainable code.