Which language is primarily used for SAP HANA database procedures?

The primary language used for writing database procedures in SAP HANA is SQL. SAP HANA supports a variant of SQL known as SQLScript, which is specifically designed for processing large volumes of data and performing complex operations within stored procedures. SQLScript enables developers to create powerful data manipulation and analysis routines, taking full advantage of the in-memory computing capabilities of HANA.

While other languages like JavaScript, Python, and R play significant roles in the broader SAP ecosystem—such as in application development or data science scenarios—SQL remains the cornerstone for database-level programming in HANA. This distinction emphasizes the relational database's reliance on SQL for creating, updating, and managing data. SQLScript, as an extension of SQL, allows for optimized data processing directly within the database server, enhancing performance and efficiency when executing complex queries or aggregations.