Introduction 
Introduction
Business Object Types and BAPIs
B
usiness Application Programming Interfaces (BAPIs) enable access to SAP functions across formal, stable and dialog-free interfaces. These interfaces can be used by external applications developed by customers and complementary software partners as well as by other SAP applications.BAPIs are defined as API methods of
SAP Business Object Types. These object types are used to enable object-based communication between components. Business objects and their BAPIs enable object orientation to be used in central information processing in companies. For example, you can reuse existing functions and data, achieve trouble-free technical interoperability, and implement non-SAP components.
Applications can use BAPIs to directly access the application layer of the SAP System and, as clients, applications can use the business logic of the SAP System. BAPIs provide the client with an object-oriented view of the application objects, without needing to know the implementation details.
BAPIs are always developed by defining scenarios. These scenarios are used to map and implement system-wide business processes.
BAPI Explorer as a Central Development Tool
The working environment for developing BAPIs is provided by the
BAPI Explorer. The BAPI Explorer enables you to quickly find BAPIs that exist in the system. An interactive project form that contains a checklist with the most important guidelines in this document supports you in all phases of your BAPI development. In the BAPI Explorer you can also navigate to the most important tools for developing your BAPI.
Interface Repository as a Central Storage for BAPIs
The standard SAP interfaces and all BAPIs are published centrally in the XML-based Interface Repository (IFR). They are stored as XML schema, which means that they are directly available for use in integration scenarios where multiple components communicate with one another using the Internet. You can access the Interface Repository in the Internet using the following address: http://ifr.sap.com.
Target Group of the Documentation
This documentation describes the guidelines SAP uses for developing and implementing BAPIs to ensure that the development of BAPIs is as standard as possible. These standards make BAPIs easy to use.
This programming guide is targeted at SAP developers, partners and customers who want to implement BAPIs.
Unless stated otherwise, these guidelines apply to releases back to and including 4.0.
See also:
TerminologyFurther Documentation
Changes in Release 4.6C