Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

Lightweight Directory Access Protocol
     
         (LDAP) A {protocol} for accessing on-line
        {directory services}.
     
        LDAP was defined by the {IETF} in order to encourage adoption
        of {X.500} directories.  The {Directory Access Protocol} (DAP)
        was seen as too complex for simple {internet clients} to use.
        LDAP defines a relatively simple protocol for updating and
        searching directories running over {TCP/IP}.
     
        LDAP is gaining support from vendors such as {Netscape},
        {Novell}, {Sun}, {HP}, {IBM}/Lotus, {SGI}, {AT&T}, and
        {Banyan}
     
        An LDAP directory entry is a collection of attributes with a
        name, called a distinguished name (DN).  The DN refers to the
        entry unambiguously.  Each of the entry's attributes has a
        {type} and one or more values.  The types are typically
        mnemonic strings, like "cn" for common name, or "mail" for
        {e-mail address}.  The values depend on the type.  For
        example, a mail attribute might contain the value
        "[email protected]".  A jpegPhoto attribute would contain
        a photograph in binary {JPEG}/{JFIF} format.
     
        LDAP directory entries are arranged in a {hierarchical}
        structure that reflects political, geographic, and/or
        organisational boundaries.  Entries representing countries
        appear at the top of the tree.  Below them are entries
        representing states or national organisations.  Below them
        might be entries representing people, organisational units,
        printers, documents, or just about anything else.
     
        {RFC 1777}, {RFC 1778}, {RFC 1959}, {RFC 1960}, {RFC 1823}.
     
        {LDAP v3
        (http://www.kingsmountain.com/LDAPRoadmap/CurrentState.html)}.
     
        [Difference v1, v2, v3?]
     
        (2003-09-27)