SAP Fiori & BTP Guide
SAP Fiori is SAP's design system and user experience for SAP S/4HANA and other SAP applications, delivered through role-based apps in the SAP Fiori Launchpad. This guide explains 81 SAP Fiori and SAP BTP concepts — from SAPUI5 and SAP Fiori elements to target mappings, OData, RAP and workflow — with definitions, examples and an architecture map.
Each entry covers:
- a definition;
- where the concept sits in the SAP Fiori architecture;
- when to use it;
- common mistakes;
- a comparison with the concepts it is most often confused with;
- a short FAQ.
Use search (Cmd/Ctrl + K) to find any entry or T-code.
Architecture Map
Follow a tile click from the launchpad to the database, and see where workflow logic can live.
Explore the map →Which UI approach fits?
Answer a few questions to compare standard apps, SAP Fiori elements, freestyle SAPUI5, SAP Build Apps and SAP GUI for your scenario.
Start →UI Technologies
The frameworks, design system and tools behind SAP Fiori: SAPUI5, OpenUI5, UI5 Web Components, the SAP Fiori Design Guidelines and their themes.
- SAPUI5
- OpenUI5
- UI5 Web Components
- SAP Fiori Design Guidelines
- SAP Horizon
- SAP Fiori Client
- SAP Mobile Start
- SAP Fiori tools
- App Descriptor (manifest.json)
App Types
What actually opens behind a tile: transactional and analytical apps, freestyle SAPUI5, SAP GUI for HTML, Web Dynpro ABAP and custom Z-apps.
- Transactional Apps
- Analytical Apps
- Fact Sheets
- Freestyle SAPUI5 App
- SAP GUI for HTML (Web GUI)
- Web Dynpro ABAP
- SAP Fiori Apps Reference Library
- SAP Smart Business KPIs
- Custom Apps (Z-Apps)
SAP Fiori Elements & Floorplans
How SAP Fiori elements generates apps from services and annotations, and the floorplans it supports: List Report, Object Page, Worklist, Analytical List Page and more.
- SAP Fiori Elements
- List Report
- Object Page
- Worklist
- Analytical List Page (ALP)
- Overview Page (OVP)
- Form Entry Object Page
- Flexible Column Layout
- Flexible Programming Model
- UI Annotations
- Draft Handling
- UI Integration Cards
Launchpad & Content
How the SAP Fiori Launchpad decides what each user sees and what each tile opens: spaces, pages, catalogs, business roles, semantic objects and target mappings.
- SAP Fiori Launchpad
- Tile
- Spaces and Pages
- Catalogs (Technical and Business)
- Business Role
- Target Mapping
- Semantic Object
- Intent-Based Navigation
- Launchpad Content Manager
- Launchpad Designer
- App Finder
- My Home
Data & Services
The service and data-model layer under every SAP Fiori app: OData, SAP Gateway, ABAP CDS, RAP, CAP and SAP's released APIs.
- OData
- SAP Gateway
- ABAP CDS Views
- ABAP RESTful Application Programming Model (RAP)
- SAP Cloud Application Programming Model (CAP)
- Service Binding (RAP)
- Virtual Data Model (VDM)
- Released APIs and SAP Business Accelerator Hub
- BAPI
SAP BTP & Extensibility
Where extensions live and who builds them: SAP BTP, SAP Build Work Zone, SAP Build Apps, clean core, key user and side-by-side extensibility.
- SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP)
- SAP Build Work Zone
- SAP Build Apps
- SAP Business Application Studio
- SAP Cloud Connector
- Destinations (SAP BTP)
- HTML5 Application Repository
- ABAP Cloud
- Clean Core
- Key User Extensibility
- Side-by-Side Extensibility
- UI Adaptation (Adapt UI)
Process & Workflow
Where approvals and process logic run in SAP landscapes: SAP Business Workflow, flexible workflow, My Inbox, SAP Build Process Automation and related frameworks.
- SAP Business Workflow
- Flexible Workflow
- My Inbox
- SAP Build Process Automation
- SAP Task Center
- Situation Handling
- Responsibility Management
Administration & Troubleshooting
The transactions and checks administrators use when an SAP Fiori app does not load, a tile does not open or a service fails.
- /IWFND/MAINT_SERVICE
- /IWFND/ERROR_LOG and /IWBEP/ERROR_LOG
- /IWFND/GW_CLIENT
- /UI2/FLIA
- /UI2/FLC
- Launchpad Cache Invalidation
- PFCG and SAP Fiori Roles
- SU53 and STAUTHTRACE
- SICF Service Activation
- Rapid Content Activation (STC01 Task Lists)
- Gateway Metadata Cache Cleanup
Frequently asked questions about SAP Fiori
Is SAP Fiori the same as SAPUI5?
No. SAP Fiori is the design system and user experience; SAPUI5 is the JavaScript framework most SAP Fiori apps are built with. Interfaces can also follow SAP Fiori design using other technologies, such as UI5 Web Components.
Is SAP Fiori replacing SAP GUI?
SAP Fiori is SAP's strategic user experience for SAP S/4HANA, and new functionality increasingly arrives as SAP Fiori apps. In SAP S/4HANA on-premise and Private Edition, many expert, administrative and legacy transactions still run in SAP GUI or SAP GUI for HTML. SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition is designed around SAP Fiori apps.
Is SAP Fiori being discontinued?
No. The retired product is SAP Fiori Client, a mobile container app. SAP Fiori remains the user experience of SAP S/4HANA, and SAP Horizon is its current visual theme.
What is the difference between SAP Fiori and the SAP Fiori Launchpad?
SAP Fiori is the overall design system and user experience. The SAP Fiori Launchpad is the role-based entry point that hosts SAP Fiori apps, tiles, search and notifications.
Do you need SAP BTP to use SAP Fiori?
No. SAP Fiori apps for SAP S/4HANA run on the SAP Fiori front-end server, an ABAP component deployed embedded in SAP S/4HANA or as a separate hub system. SAP BTP is needed for side-by-side extensions, SAP Build Work Zone sites and other cloud services.
What is the SAP Fiori Apps Reference Library?
The SAP Fiori Apps Reference Library is SAP's official catalog of SAP Fiori apps. It lists app IDs, application types, required business roles, catalogs and OData services per release, and it is the first place to check whether a standard app covers a task.
SAP, SAP Fiori, SAPUI5, SAP S/4HANA, SAP BTP and other SAP products and services mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP SE (or an SAP affiliate company) in Germany and other countries. This guide is independent and is not affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by SAP SE.