SAP ABAP Dates: Understanding Different Date and Time Types

In SAP ABAP, there are several date types available depending on the requirement:

1️⃣ Standard Date Type (`SY-DATUM`)

Type: DATS
Format: YYYYMMDD (8-character, internal format)
Example Usage:

DATA: lv_date TYPE sy-datum.
lv_date = sy-datum.  " Get today's date
WRITE: lv_date.

2️⃣ Date Field in Tables

In database tables (SE11), use DATS for date fields.
Example:

DATA: lv_db_date TYPE ztable-datum.  " Assuming 'datum' is a DATS field in ZTABLE

3️⃣ Character-Type Date (`CHAR`)

Sometimes, dates are stored as character strings.
Example:

DATA: lv_char_date TYPE char10.
WRITE sy-datum TO lv_char_date DD/MM/YYYY.  " Convert to human-readable format
WRITE: lv_char_date.  " Output: 08/03/2025

4️⃣ Timestamp (`TIMESTAMP`)

Type: TIMESTAMPL (16-character, YYYYMMDDHHMMSSMMM)
Use Case: If you need date + time, use timestamps.
Example:

DATA: lv_timestamp TYPE timestamp.
GET TIME STAMP FIELD lv_timestamp.
WRITE: lv_timestamp.  " Output: 20250308123045000

5️⃣ Time (`TIME`)

Type: TIMS
Format: HHMMSS
Example:

DATA: lv_time TYPE sy-uzeit.
lv_time = sy-uzeit.
WRITE: 'Current Time:', lv_time.

6️⃣ Date Calculations

You can perform arithmetic operations on DATS:

DATA: lv_date TYPE sy-datum.

lv_date = sy-datum + 10.  " Add 10 days
WRITE: 'Future Date:', lv_date.

lv_date = sy-datum - 5.  " Subtract 5 days
WRITE: 'Past Date:', lv_date.

🔹 Summary

Type	Data Type	Format	Use Case
`DATS`	`YYYYMMDD`	`20250308`	Standard date in SAP
`TIMESTAMP`	`YYYYMMDDHHMMSSMMM`	`20250308123045000`	Precise date + time
`TIMS`	`HHMMSS`	`123045`	Only time storage
`CHAR`	Varies	`08/03/2025`	Custom formats

1️⃣ Standard Date Type (SY-DATUM)

2️⃣ Date Field in Tables

3️⃣ Character-Type Date (CHAR)

4️⃣ Timestamp (TIMESTAMP)

5️⃣ Time (TIME)

6️⃣ Date Calculations

🔹 Summary

1️⃣ Standard Date Type (`SY-DATUM`)

3️⃣ Character-Type Date (`CHAR`)

4️⃣ Timestamp (`TIMESTAMP`)

5️⃣ Time (`TIME`)