Difference Between COMMIT WORK and BAPI_TRANSACTION_COMMIT with WAIT

In this article, the key differences between COMMIT WORK and BAPI_TRANSACTION_COMMIT with WAIT are discussed, focusing on their synchronous and asynchronous behaviors.

ABAP Commit Concepts

1. COMMIT WORK

The COMMIT WORK command is used in ABAP to commit changes to the database. It operates as an asynchronous process, meaning it does not wait for a response from the backend before moving on to the next statement. This allows the program to continue executing other tasks without delay.

2. COMMIT WORK AND WAIT

The COMMIT WORK AND WAIT command is similar to commit work, but it functions as a synchronous process. This means it waits for a response from the backend after sending a request to update data. The program only proceeds to the next statement once the update is confirmed to be complete.

3. BAPI_TRANSACTION_COMMIT

The BAPI_TRANSACTION_COMMIT function module can operate in two modes:

• With WAIT (WAIT = ABAP_TRUE): This is a synchronous process, which means it waits for a response from the backend after sending a request to update data. This is particularly useful when data integrity is essential, such as in remote calls.
• Without WAIT (WAIT = ABAP_FALSE): In this mode, it operates as an asynchronous process. The program does not wait for a response and continues executing other tasks immediately after the commit request is sent.

Key Differences

- COMMIT WORK: Always asynchronous; does not wait for a response.
- COMMIT WORK AND WAIT: Synchronous; waits for a response before moving on.
- BAPI_TRANSACTION_COMMIT with WAIT = TRUE: Synchronous; ensures confirmation of updates before proceeding.
- BAPI_TRANSACTION_COMMIT with WAIT = FALSE: Asynchronous; does not wait for a response, allowing the program to continue processing.

Practical Implications

- Use COMMIT WORK when performance is critical and immediate feedback is not necessary.
- Use COMMIT WORK AND WAIT or BAPI_TRANSACTION_COMMIT with WAIT = TRUE when confirmation of updates is essential, especially in remote API calls where data integrity is paramount.
- Use BAPI_TRANSACTION_COMMIT with WAIT = FALSE when you prefer to continue processing without waiting for confirmation, but still want to utilize the BAPI framework.

- It is not recommended to use COMMIT (includes all commits discussed here) inside enhancements created in standard program since the main program will already have a COMMIT statement and using the COMMIT inside enhancement will update all the database tables till that point and if any rollback occurs in next steps of the program it will lead to inconsistent database updates. Basically it disturbs SAP LUW.

Please feel free to add missing points in comments.