Avoid Database Hints (%_HINTS) in ABAP SQL

WarningPerformance & Database#EC NO_SQL_HINTSRemote Enabled

Overview

Avoid database hints (%_HINTS) in ABAP SQL queries.

ATC Finding Message: Avoid %_HINTS; hints bypass query optimizer and break DB portability

Rationale

Hardcoding %_HINTS overrides the database optimizer and tightly couples ABAP code to a specific database vendor (e.g. HDB, Oracle, DB6). Hints break portability during database upgrades, HANA migrations, or ABAP Cloud downports.

Standard: Optimize queries through proper secondary indexes, CDS views, and index-backed WHERE conditions rather than vendor-specific hints.

Non-Compliant

" Vendor-specific database hint
SELECT * FROM t000 INTO TABLE lt_data %_HINTS HDB 'INDEX_SEARCH'.

Compliant

" Clean SQL without vendor hints
SELECT * FROM t000 INTO TABLE lt_data.

Suppression

To suppress findings for this rule, append the pseudo-comment to the statement:

" Standard pseudo-comment:
... "#EC NO_SQL_HINTS

" SAP CI_ prefix format:
... "#EC CI_NO_SQL_HINTS

Related Rules

• Avoid Unfiltered SELECT on Database Tables (Full Table Scan Prevention) — #EC NO_FULL_SCAN_SELECT
• Prefer Strict SQL Host Variable Escaping — #EC PREF_STRICT_SQL

Technical Details

• Native ATC Class: ZCL_SKYLINT_NO_SQL_HINTS
• Implementation File: zcl_skylint_no_sql_hints.clas.abap