What does the term 'transport request' refer to in SAP?

The term 'transport request' in SAP refers specifically to a set of changes that are moved between systems. In the context of SAP development, transport requests are essential components used to manage and transport configuration settings and development objects, such as programs, function modules, and customizing settings, from one SAP environment to another. This process ensures that developments made in a development system can be systematically moved to a quality assurance or production system, maintaining the integrity and consistency of the application.

Transport requests are categorized into two main types: custom transports, which are created for specific development purposes, and configuration transports, which are used for transferring configuration and customizing data. The transport management system (TMS) in SAP facilitates this movement, allowing multiple systems (including development, test, and production environments) to remain aligned and functional.

While backing up data, user interface customization, and report generation may be relevant activities within an SAP environment, they do not accurately describe the function or purpose of transport requests. Transport requests are strictly concerned with the movement of changes across different SAP systems to support ongoing development and operational workflows.