LDAP
Technology & Computing abbreviation · Networking
| Stands for | Lightweight Directory Access Protocol |
|---|---|
| Categories | Technology & Computing |
LDAP stands for Lightweight Directory Access Protocol, a networking abbreviation.
An open protocol for querying and updating directory services that store users, groups, computers and their attributes. Applications use LDAP to look up accounts and verify passwords against a central directory such as Active Directory or OpenLDAP.
Example: The wiki authenticates staff against LDAP, so everyone logs in with their network password.
Usage notes
Developed in the early 1990s at the University of Michigan as a lighter alternative to the X.500 Directory Access Protocol; LDAPv3 is defined in RFC 4511 (2006). Entries are identified by distinguished names such as cn=Ana Ruiz,ou=Sales,dc=example,dc=com. Plain LDAP on port 389 is unencrypted, so LDAPS on port 636 or StartTLS should be used.
Related abbreviations
More networking abbreviations
- IS-IS – Intermediate System to Intermediate System
- iSCSI – Internet Small Computer Systems Interface
- ISP – Internet service provider
- IXP – Internet exchange point
- L2TP – Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol
- LAN – Local area network
- MAC – Media access control (address)
- MAN – Metropolitan area network
- MPLS – Multiprotocol Label Switching
- MQTT – MQTT (formerly MQ Telemetry Transport)
- MSS – Maximum segment size
- MTA – Mail transfer agent