In a nested join in ABAP, how is the join evaluated?

The evaluation of a nested join in ABAP occurs from the top to the bottom based on the order of the "on" conditions. This means that when executing the query, ABAP will first consider the outer join condition before moving to the inner joins specified within the nested structure. This approach allows ABAP to effectively manage the relationships between the tables involved, ensuring that the resultant data set is built correctly according to the specified conditions.

The top-to-bottom evaluation respects the hierarchical nature of joins, where the outer join acts as the starting point for the evaluation of subsequent inner joins. Each layer of the join must satisfy its corresponding condition before it can contribute to the final output. This structured evaluation method is essential for maintaining clarity and correctness in complex queries involving multiple tables, especially when the relationships between them can affect the results.