Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

Business Application Programming Interface
     
         (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
        (http://www.sap.com/solutions/technology/bapis/index.htm)}.
        gives background information and lists objects and BAPIs.
     
        (2002-08-30)