SAP Fiori Elements accelerates the development of SAP Fiori apps by providing standardized templates for common UI patterns, such as list reports, object pages, and overview pages. These templates are metadata-driven and built on top of SAPUI5, enabling rapid development with consistency and adherence to SAP's UX guidelines.
While SAP Fiori Elements provide robust out-of-the-box capabilities, many real-world scenarios require custom logic or UI enhancements. Extending these applications effectively—without compromising upgradeability or maintainability—is key. This article highlights best practices for extending SAP Fiori Elements to ensure both flexibility and long-term sustainability.
SAP Fiori Elements supports layered extensibility, meaning you can enhance the application at different levels without modifying the core templates. Extension options include:
Annotations are the primary way to configure and extend Fiori Elements apps. They define how the data model is presented in the UI.
🔹 Tip: Always check if your requirement can be met with standard annotations before considering custom code.
SAP Fiori Elements provides UI extension points to insert custom views or fragments.
manifest.json to register your extensions and embed custom XML views using the defined extension hooks.🔹 Tip: Keep extensions modular and loosely coupled from the core logic.
If you need to add behavior that annotations can't handle (e.g., field validation, data pre-processing), use controller extensions.
sap.ui.controller.ControllerExtension. Override lifecycle methods such as onInit, onBeforeRendering, or define custom handlers.🔹 Best Practice: Avoid direct DOM manipulation. Always use SAPUI5 APIs to interact with the UI.
You can define Custom Actions that trigger back-end or front-end logic, such as approvals or workflow calls.
@UI: { lineItem: [{ type: #FOR_ACTION, ... }] }🔹 Tip: Clearly name and document custom actions to ensure traceability.
Always use SAP-supported extension mechanisms. Avoid modifying standard Fiori Element templates or core libraries.
A clear naming standard helps manage and maintain custom extensions across teams.
com.company.projectnameMaintain documentation for each extension: why it was added, where, and how it works.
Test your extensions in the context of both UI and backend logic.
If your backend is built using SAP Cloud Application Programming Model (CAP) or ABAP RESTful Application Programming Model (RAP):
Extending SAP Fiori Elements is powerful—but only when done with care. Following best practices ensures your customizations remain compatible, scalable, and supportable across SAP upgrades and changes. Use annotations as the first choice, rely on controller extensions only when needed, and always work within SAP’s extensibility framework.
By building with these principles in mind, you can deliver tailored business functionality while preserving the speed and integrity that SAP Fiori Elements provides.