How to list all tables in ABAP programmatically?

Question

All tables may be listed with t-code SE16 and table DD02L. But how can that list be accessed programmatically?

Answer 1

It is rarely a good idea to access the database tables directly since you will have to deal with all kinds of technicalities you probably don't even know about - active / inactive versions, for example. You will also bypass all security and authorization checks, which might be irrelevant to you personally, but is undesirable in general. To get a list of tables, you can use the function module RPY_TABLE_SELECT. This function module will take care of the version handling and provide the description in the language of your choice as well.

Answer 2

Improved Alex code in some way and put it as an option:

SELECT tabname
 FROM DD02L 
 INTO TABLE @DATA(itab)
WHERE TABCLASS = 'TRANSP'.

LOOP AT itab ASSIGNING FIELD-SYMBOL(<FS>).
 WRITE:/ <FS>.
ENDLOOP.

Several things were refined: incline declarations were utilized, field-symbols added, SELECT * and WHERE IN were omitted and so on.
Also tables in SAP have only TRANSP class, INTTAB class belongs to structures.

Note: the sample is functional since ABAP 7.40, SP08.