Business Application Programming Interface

BAPI is Business API. It is used in mySAP to achieve business related functionalities. It is a remote enabled function module which is provided by SAP. The transaction code for BAPI is BAPI and the BAPI repository can be accessed using the t-code swo3. Business 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 [Ext.]. These object types are used within the Business Framework 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, existing functions and data can be reused, trouble-free technical interoperability can be achieved, and non-SAP components can be implemented. Applications can use BAPIs to directly access the application layer of the R/3 System and, as clients, applications can use the business logic of the R/3 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.
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<business, application, programming> (BAPI) /bap'ee/ A set of methods provided by an SAP business object.
Release 4.0 of SAP AG's R/3 system supports object-oriented programming via an interface defined in terms of objects and methods called BAPIs. For example if a material object provides a function to check availability, the corresponding SAP business object type "Material" might provide a BAPI called "Material.CheckAvailability".
The definitions of SAP business objects and their BAPIs are kept in an SAP business object repository. SAP provide classes and libraries to enable a programming team to build SAP applications that use business objects and BAPIs. Supported environments include COM and Java.
The Open BAPI Network. gives background information and lists objects and BAPIs.
(2002-08-30)