 Network protocol supporting distributed directory information services | |
| Purpose | Directory service |
|---|---|
| Introduction | 1993 (1993) |
| Based on | X.500 |
| Ports | 389 (ldap), 636 (ldaps) |
| RFCs | 4510, 4511 |
Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP /ˈɛl.dæp/) is an Internet protocol for accessing directory information services that act in accordance with X.500 data and service models.1 A full description of the protocol can be found in the "Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) Technical Specification Road Map" RFC 4510 and its references.
Directory services play an important role in developing and Internet applications by allowing the sharing of information about users, systems, networks, services, and applications throughout the network. As examples, directory services may provide any organized set of records, often with a hierarchical structure, such as a corporate directory. Similarly, a is a list of subscribers with an address and a phone number.