HTTP Request Handler

An HTTP request handler is a program (or, to be more exact, an ABAP class). It is identified by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) and processes incoming HTTP requests.

The HTTP request handler receives and processes data that is sent by an HTTP call (for example, coded in the URL as query string information). After the request handler has processed the data, it creates a response that it then sends to the caller.

You need an HTTP request handler when using the SAP system as an HTTP server.

SAP provides HTTP request handlers for standard functions (such as BSP, SOAP and IDoc). You can adapt these to your personal requirements. By defining your own HTTP request handlers, you can use the ICF more flexibly for your applications.

To do this, the HTTP request handler must be able to access the request data and send a response back to the client. The Internet Communication Framework (ICF) has the task of providing this infrastructure.

An example of a typical scenario involving an HTTP request handler is a handler that provides a Web browser with SAP reports. The HTTP request handler reads the selection criteria of the report, which are sent with the request (for example, in the URL), calls the relevant report from the SAP System, converts the results to HTML and returns them to the requesting Web browser.