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Concept

ABAP is the programming interface of SAP NetWeaver Application Server for ABAP and can only be used in this context. This application server provides the development and runtime environment for ABAP programs and is integrated into a three-tier architecture encompassing a presentation layer, an application layer, and a database layer.

  • The presentation layer is distributed to the work stations of individual users and represents the user interface of an ABAP-based SAP system (in SAP GUI or in a Web browser).

  • The application layer consists of one or more application servers. The application layer contains the ABAP runtime environment in which ABAP programs are executed.

  • The database layer consists of a database system in which the data of an SAP system is saved.

The application server, together with the ABAP runtime environment and the interface to the database system, represents to a large extent an abstraction from the particular details of the hardware system, operating system, and database platform used. This makes ABAP programs platform-independent and means that they can run on all supported platforms or combinations of platforms. Exceptions to this are the platform-dependent additions to the file interface commands and integrated Native SQL or ADBC. The hardware of an SAP system can be scaled. Usually, each layer requires its own host machine.