Basis & Technology

What is SAP HANA (HANA)?

SAP's in-memory, columnar database platform, required for S/4HANA and BW/4HANA.

HANA stores data in columns in memory, enabling fast aggregation and real-time analytics on transactional data. It also offers calculation views, SQLScript, and data tiering. Memory sizing and HANA revision upgrades are Basis responsibilities that require regression testing.

Related terms

SAP S/4HANA
SAP's current-generation ERP suite, built to run only on the SAP HANA in-memory database.
SAP BW/4HANA
SAP's HANA-only data warehouse with simplified object types such as advanced DSOs and CompositeProviders.
ABAP Managed Database Procedure
An ABAP class method implemented in SQLScript and executed directly in SAP HANA.
Code Pushdown
Moving data-intensive logic from the application server to the database layer to exploit HANA performance.

More in Basis & Technology

Planning an S/4HANA move?

Read the field guides on testing an ECC to S/4HANA migration and grab the free template library.