LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol)

Definition: LDAP is a process used to access a directory listing.

What This Means: LDAP provides a common method for searching information in a directory. LDAP is a companion protocol to HTTP and FTP. An agency-wide LDAP implementation can enable almost any application, running on almost any computer platform, to obtain information from your LDAP directory. And that directory can be used to store a broad range of data: email address and mail routing information, HR data, public security keys, contact lists, etc. By making an LDAP directory a focal point in your systems integration, you’re providing one-stop shopping whenever people go looking for information within your company—even if the primary source of the data lives elsewhere.

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