Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP)

Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) is an open, vendor-neutral protocol designed to access, maintain, and retrieve directory information across a network. Directories managed via LDAP are often hierarchical and structured similarly to a tree, storing information such as user identities, credentials, and resource permissions. This centralization enables LDAP to streamline processes like authentication and authorization by storing all user credentials in one location. When a user logs into a system, an LDAP server can quickly verify the identity, granting or denying access based on the information in the directory. LDAP is widely used in organizational IT environments to maintain and access directory-based resources such as user accounts, email addresses, and security information. It supports various applications, including single sign-on (SSO) systems and centralized network access management. LDAP servers are often implemented in environments using software like Microsoft Active Directory, OpenLDAP, or IBM Security Directory Server. By using a structured, scalable format, LDAP makes user management more efficient and secure across large, distributed systems.