Back

Definition
LDAP, or Lightweight Directory Access Protocol, is an open, vendor-neutral protocol used to access and manage directory information services over a network. It is commonly used for storing user credentials, organizational details, and access permissions in centralized directories, such as Microsoft Active Directory or OpenLDAP.

Why it matters
LDAP enables centralized authentication and authorization, which helps organizations manage user identities, permissions, and resources efficiently. It improves security by standardizing access controls and allows applications and services to integrate with a unified user directory.

Example use case
An employee logs into a company’s internal system. The application uses LDAP to authenticate the user’s credentials against a centralized directory, ensuring secure and consistent access across multiple applications.