1 Overview 
The SAP NetWeaver Business Client (NWBC) is a rich UI client that offers a single point of entry to SAP applications, especially harmonizing access to existing SAP GUI transactions and newly developed applications based on Web Dynpro. NWBC itself is a high fidelity shell that aims at harmonizing the user experience over different UI technologies.
NWBC comes in two flavors:
NWBC for HTML is a browser-based shell (available only against ABAP systems) for casual use scenarios. Within this environment, all SAP GUI transactions will be rendered using the SAP GUI for HTML rendering engine.
NWBC for Desktop is a .NET based application that targets the power user. In this scenario, the SAP GUI itself is used as rendering engine if installed. NWBC effectively “replaces” SAP GUI as main entry point to SAP applications; however, it does use SAP GUI to run existing applications.
NWBC for HTML as a ‘light’ version is only supported against ABAP systems, using established roles from PFCG. NWBC for Desktop can also run against single ABAP systems with the PFCG as role repository, or against a SAP NetWeaver Portal using the PCD as role repository.
(NWBC for Desktop and NWBC for HTML)
Both flavors of NWBC implement the same design (with slight variations to further improve performance depending on rendering technology). On a first view, the two flavours look and feel the same, with also the interaction model aligned.
This chapter will look at different general aspects of NWBC:
Lists the different versions of NWBC that have been shipped to date.
1.2 Differences Between NWBC v1.0 and NWBC v3.0
Compares the main features of NWBC v3.0 with those of NWBC v1.0.
Provides an overview of NWBC central components. The role repository of PFCG in ABAP systems is contrasted with the PCD in the portal. Besides, the session tab paradigm of NWBC v.1 is compared with the multi window approach of NWBC v.3.
Notes
The graphics in the following documentation are examples of prototypes only. The design of the Business Client is developing continually. For this reason, the UIs may vary from one Business Client version to the next.