Which SELECT statement will always bypass the SAP table buffers?

The SELECT statement that will always bypass the SAP table buffers is the one that employs the "FOR UPDATE" clause. This is because when a SELECT statement includes "FOR UPDATE," it indicates that the selected data is going to be modified, and thus, it needs to be fetched directly from the database instead of relying on potentially outdated information stored in the buffers. This behavior ensures that the data retrieved is the most current version, facilitating the accuracy required for any subsequent updates or processing.

By using the "FOR UPDATE" clause, the system locks the selected records, which also requires bypassing the buffer to obtain a lock on the actual database entry. This targeted access is crucial for maintaining data integrity during transactional operations, ensuring that what is being worked on is exactly what resides in the database, unaffected by any cached versions that may have become stale.

In contrast, other SELECT options do interact with the buffer. For instance, the use of "SELECT ... ENDSELECT" or “SELECT ... INTO TABLE ...” typically allows reading from the buffer, depending on the data’s availability in the cache. The "SELECT ... SINGLE ..." statement also generally accesses the buffer unless the requirements dictate a different operational need, making them less reliable for preventing stale data usage. Thus, "