LDAP

LDAP, or Lightweight Directory Access Protocol, is a protocol used to access and manage directory information services over an IP network. It serves as the foundational protocol for accessing directory services, which can be used for storing information about users, organizations, and other entities. LDAP was developed by Tim Howes and his colleagues at the University of Michigan during the early 1990s.

LDAP was created as a lightweight alternative to the Directory Access Protocol (DAP) used in the X.500 directory services standard. Tim Howes and his team at the University of Michigan introduced LDAP to simplify access to directory services, enabling broader adoption and better performance. LDAP operates over TCP/IP networks and uses a client-server model. A typical LDAP directory structure is hierarchical and can store attributes such as usernames, passwords, and email addresses. LDAP is widely used in various applications, including email client address books, user authentication systems, and network management. Its robust and flexible design makes it a cornerstone in enterprise environments for centralized management of user data.