ABAP Workbench is the development environment in the SAP R/3 system. It consists of

- Development tools
- Programming languages
- Data Dictionary; and
- Functions

The ABAP workbench serves as the foundation for all the SAP R/3 system business applications. It is used for developing additional functions and applications for the client/server R/3 system. The ABAP workbench covers all the stages in the development lifecycle right from project initiation to version management. One of the most unique features of the ABAP Workbench is that it allows portability among SAP R/3 systems and ensures quick transfer of SAP R/3 systems to production environments. Transport tools are used to migrate upgrades to SAP R/3 systems which are mainly handled by SAP and are in turn rolled out in a phased manner. The entire process can eb controlled by system administrators.