SAP RAP Tutorial – Complete Introduction to RESTful ABAP Programming Model

Introduction to SAP RAP (RESTful ABAP Programming Model)

The SAP RAP (RESTful ABAP Programming Model) is SAP’s recommended framework for building modern, cloud-ready, and Fiori-compliant applications using ABAP. RAP allows ABAP developers to create OData services, Fiori apps, and business services in a structured, scalable, and future-proof way. This SAP RAP Tutorial series will help you understand the basics in a clear and concise manner.

With SAP gradually shifting towards SAP S/4HANA, Steampunk ABAP, and SAP BTP ABAP Environment, RAP has become a must-have skill for ABAP developers.

This SAP tutorial series is designed to help you:

Understand RAP from basics to advanced
Build real-world transactional and analytical applications
Prepare for modern ABAP and SAP BTP projects

SAP RAP Tutorial, ABAP Restful Programming Tutorial

Why SAP Introduced RAP?

Traditional ABAP programming models (like SEGW, BOPF, and classic reports) were not designed for:

Cloud extensibility
Clean separation of concerns
Fiori-first application development
Service-oriented architecture

SAP RAP solves these issues by providing:

A CDS-first design approach
Built-in transaction handling
Native support for OData V2 and V4
Strict separation between data, behavior, and service exposure

Who Should Learn SAP RAP?

This RAP tutorial is ideal for:

ABAP Developers moving to S/4HANA
SAP Technical Consultants
SAP BTP Developers
Developers currently working with SEGW, BOPF, or classic ABAP
Anyone preparing for future SAP ABAP roles

If you know basic ABAP, you can start RAP immediately—no need to be an expert in UI5.

Prerequisites for SAP RAP

Before starting this tutorial, you should have:

Basic knowledge of ABAP
Understanding of internal tables, classes, and Open SQL
Access to:
- SAP S/4HANA system (1909+ recommended) or
- SAP BTP ABAP Environment (Steampunk)

If you do not have access you can also use the Demo trial system provided by SAP. You can create the trial account here.

How This Tutorial Is Structured

Each blog in this series follows a hands-on approach:

Clear explanation of theory
Step-by-step implementation
Common mistakes and best practices
Real-world scenarios
Performance and design tips

This ensures you not only learn RAP, but also use it correctly in projects.

Start Your SAP RAP Journey Here

If you’re serious about modern ABAP development, SAP RAP is non-negotiable. This tutorial series will help you build a solid foundation and confidently work on RAP-based applications.