What is the Difference Between RFC and BAPI in SAP

The main difference between RFC and BAPI in SAP is that RFC is a mechanism that allows business applications to communicate with other systems while BAPI is a programming interface to the business object models in SAP products.

The SAP is an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software. It integrates the main business functions of an organization. Business processes in SAP ERP are operations such as sales, materials management, production planning, logistics, etc., financials such as financial accounting, management accounting, human capital management, and corporate services. Furthermore, there are many modules available in SAP. Some of them include ABAP, Basic, PP, HR etc. RFC and BAPI are two terms related to SAP.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is RFC
     – Definition, Functionality
2. What is BAPI
     – Definition, Functionality
3. What is the Difference Between RFC and BAPI in SAP
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

BAPI, ERP, RFC, SAP

Difference Between RFC and BAPI in SAP - Comparison Summary

What is RFC

RFC stands for Remote Function Call. It is a method that allows a business application to exchange information with various systems. Moreover, it is an SAP protocol to establish communication between systems. A function in a machine can call a function in some other machine using RFC. It is also possible to call a function in a different program of the same machine using RFC. But, this mechanism is usually used to call functions running on a different machine. The RFC interface helps to set up the RFC connection among various SAP systems or an SAP and non-SAP system. 

Difference Between RFC and BAPI in SAP

RFC provides a number of advantages to the programmers. It prevents developing modules again and again at remote systems. Furthermore, it calls up certain routines to begin communication with the remote system and handles errors that occur in communication.

What is BAPI

BAPI stands for Business Application Programming Interface. It is a standardized programming interface to the business object models in SAP products. Moreover, it wraps the internal layers of SAP’s business object model to confirm that all business logic, authorization, and validation executes properly when accessing or changing the business objects.

The BOR (Business Object Repository) defines BAPI as methods of SAP business object types that can perform business functions. Furthermore, BAPI functions suitable for most SAP business objects are called Standardized BAPIs. Some of them are as follows.

BAPIs for Reading Data – GetList() , GetDetail() , GetStatus() , ExistenceCheck()

BAPIs for Creating or Changing Data– Create() ,Change(),Delete() and Undelete() ,

BAPIs for Mass Processing – ChangeMultiple(), CreateMultiple(), DeleteMultiple().

Difference Between RFC and BAPI in SAP

Definition

RFC is the standard SAP interface for communication between SAP systems while BAPI is a standard programming interface that enables external applications to access business processes and data in the R/3 system. Thus, these definitions contain the main difference between RFC and BAPI in SAP.

Long Form

While RFC stands for Remote Function Call, BAPI stands for Business Application Programming Interface.

Usage

RFC allows calling function modules that are residing on different machines. In contrast, BAPI allows accessing SAP functions across formal, stable and dialogue-free interfaces. Hence, this is another difference between RFC and BAPI in SAP.

Conclusion

The main difference between RFC and BAPI in SAP is that RFC is a mechanism that allows business applications to communicate with other systems while BAPI is a programming interface to the business object models in SAP products. RFC and BAPI are two terms related to SAP.

Reference:

1. “Remote Function Call (RFC) in SAP Tutorial.” Meet Guru99 – Free Training Tutorials & Video for IT Courses, Available here.
2. “SAP BAPI Tutorial – Step by Step Guide to Create BAPI in ABAP.” Meet Guru99 – Free Training Tutorials & Video for IT Courses, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “SAP 2011 logo” By SAP AG – Vektordaten (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia

About the Author: Lithmee

Lithmee holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Systems Engineering and is reading for her Master’s degree in Computer Science. She is passionate about sharing her knowldge in the areas of programming, data science, and computer systems.

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