Expression Binding

Expression Binding lets you compute values directly in XML views with JavaScript-like expressions. This is especially handy in abap2UI5, since it cuts server roundtrips by moving calculations, logical conditions, and string operations to the frontend.

The syntax {= ... } marks a UI5 expression binding. Inside the expression, you can use JavaScript operators (like === for strict equality or Math.max) and reference model properties with $ followed by a binding path. Note: === is the JavaScript strict equality operator (not an ABAP operator) — UI5 needs it because these expressions evaluate in the browser.

Calculate the Maximum Value on the Frontend

The inputs use a UI5 type binding ({ type: ..., path: "..." }) for integer validation. The third input uses an expression binding ({= ... }) to compute the maximum of both values directly in the browser. What the ABAP string concatenation produces at runtime:

ABAP code	UI5 binding result
client->_bind( val = input31 path = abap_true )	/INPUT31 (raw path for type binding)
client->_bind( input31 )	{/INPUT31} (full binding for expression)
`{= Math.max($` && client->_bind( input31 ) && `, $` && client->_bind( input32 ) && `) }`	{= Math.max(${/INPUT31}, ${/INPUT32}) }

CLASS z2ui5_cl_demo_app_max_val DEFINITION PUBLIC.

  PUBLIC SECTION.
    INTERFACES z2ui5_if_app.
    DATA input31 TYPE i.
    DATA input32 TYPE i.

  PROTECTED SECTION.
  PRIVATE SECTION.
ENDCLASS.

CLASS z2ui5_cl_demo_app_max_val IMPLEMENTATION.
  METHOD z2ui5_if_app~main.

    DATA(view) = z2ui5_cl_ui5_view_builder=>factory(
        )->ele( n = `View` ns = `mvc`
            )->a( n = `xmlns`     v = `sap.m`
            )->a( n = `xmlns:mvc` v = `sap.ui.core.mvc`

            )->ele( `Shell`
                )->ele( `Page`
                    )->tag( `Label`
                        )->a( n = `text` v = `max value of the first two inputs`

                    " UI5 type binding — validates integer input
                    " resolves to: { type: "sap.ui.model.type.Integer", path: "/INPUT31" }
                    )->tag( `Input`
                        )->a( n = `value` v = `{ type : "sap.ui.model.type.Integer",` &&
                                              `  path:"` && client->_bind( val  = input31
                                                                           path = abap_true ) && `" }`
                    )->tag( `Input`
                        )->a( n = `value` v = `{ type : "sap.ui.model.type.Integer",` && |\n| &&
                                              `  path:"` && client->_bind( val  = input32
                                                                           path = abap_true ) && `" }`

                    " Expression binding — computed in the browser
                    " resolves to: {= Math.max(${/INPUT31}, ${/INPUT32}) }
                    )->tag( `Input`
                        )->a( n = `value`   v = `{= Math.max($` && client->_bind( input31 ) && `, $` && client->_bind( input32 ) && `) }`
                        )->a( n = `enabled` b = abap_false ).

    client->view_display( view->stringify( ) ).

  ENDMETHOD.
ENDCLASS.

Conditionally Set Input Field Editability

The enabled property uses an expression binding that resolves to {= 500===${/QUANTITY} } — the product field becomes editable only when the quantity equals 500 exactly. Note that === is the JavaScript strict equality operator.

CLASS z2ui5_cl_demo_editable DEFINITION PUBLIC.

  PUBLIC SECTION.
    INTERFACES z2ui5_if_app.
    DATA quantity TYPE i.
    DATA product TYPE string.

  PROTECTED SECTION.
  PRIVATE SECTION.
ENDCLASS.

CLASS z2ui5_cl_demo_editable IMPLEMENTATION.
  METHOD z2ui5_if_app~main.

    DATA(view) = z2ui5_cl_ui5_view_builder=>factory(
        )->ele( n = `View` ns = `mvc`
            )->a( n = `xmlns`     v = `sap.m`
            )->a( n = `xmlns:mvc` v = `sap.ui.core.mvc`

            )->ele( `Shell`
                )->ele( `Page`
                    )->tag( `Label`
                        )->a( n = `text` v = `only enabled when the quantity equals 500`

                    )->tag( `Input`
                        )->a( n = `value` v = `{ type : "sap.ui.model.type.Integer",` &&
                                              `  path:"` && client->_bind( val  = quantity
                                                                           path = abap_true ) && `"  }`

                    " enabled resolves to: {= 500===${/QUANTITY} }
                    )->tag( `Input`
                        )->a( n = `value`   v = client->_bind( product )
                        )->a( n = `enabled` v = `{= 500===$` && client->_bind( quantity ) && ` }` ).

    client->view_display( view->stringify( ) ).


  ENDMETHOD.
ENDCLASS.

For all options, see the sample class Z2UI5_CL_SMP_APP_027 or the UI5 docs on expression binding.

Working Samples

Complete apps from the sample catalogue that use what this page describes. Each is a single class — pull the repository with abapGit and start it with ?app_start=<class>.

Sample	Class
Expression Binding, Types and Composite Parts	Z2UI5_CL_SMP_APP_027