Adapters enable SAP NetWeaver to communicate with a variety of different application components and systems.
More information: Adapter Configuration
You can enhance adapters by using the Conversion Agent. The Conversion Agent allows you to process unstructured, semi-structured, and structured data. The Conversion Agent can be called using an adapter module in the Adapter Framework of SAP NetWeaver Exchange Infrastructure.
More information: Conversion Agent
You can also use third-party adapters.