Most of the people confused NetWeaver to be a language or software product. First of all, we need to understand that NetWeaver is not a programming language, software application, set of libraries, or any database, server, or operating system so, if you are eager to know that what SAP NetWeaver is then let us understand NetWeaver.
The simple definition of SAP NetWeaver is that it is a technology platform that is used to run Business Applications. It is a collection of components put together to address a specific challenge. The technology platform is an ecosystem in which we can solve a particular problem with the help of components in an ecosystem. Here, an ecosystem can include various applications, development tools, servers that are used to manage security, and uses industry standards to manage the application lifecycle, such as the installation of creating patches, restarts monitoring, etc.
The technology platform can include a collection of technologies or capabilities to address a specific business need or multiple business needs. So, SAP NetWeaver is a technology platform that has a collection of software applications that provide various capabilities as below:
1. Portal Capability
2. Analytical and reporting Capabilities
3. Integration Capabilities
4. Mobile Capabilities
SAP NetWeaver manages security and identity management. For example, a user has authorization for only specific applications, and he cannot access other applications inside NetWeaver. And, for all the applications that the user has access, he is not required to enter the password for all individual applications inside NetWeaver.
NetWeaver also provides some set of tools to work with these capabilities, and it actually embraces the industry standard technologies such as web services, XML, etc. NetWeaver also provides a server to deploy the application that is supported by ABAP or JAVA programs. It means all the applications listed under technology platform under the SAP NetWeaver should be either deployed in ABAP or Java.
SAP NetWeaver is an open technology platform and is a web-based open integration platform. The foundation of SAP Business by Design and SAP Business Suite is SAP NetWeaver that offers customer custom applications and partner solutions.
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