LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) is a protocol for accessing and maintaining distributed directory information services. It's like the white pages of the internet, except instead of finding your ex's phone number, you're looking up user and resource information in a tree-like structure that only a true masochist could love.

How to use it in a sentence

• "I spent all day trying to configure our LDAP server and now I'm questioning my life choices."

• "Sure, we could build our own user management system, but why not just use LDAP and make our lives more complicated than they need to be?"

If you actually want to learn more...

• LDAP: What is it and why is it used? - A beginner-friendly overview of LDAP and its use cases.

• Understanding LDAP - Design and Implementation - If you really want to dive deep into the inner workings of LDAP, this IBM Redbook is the perfect bedtime reading.

• OpenLDAP Software 2.6 Administrator's Guide - The official guide for masochists who want to set up and administer their own LDAP server using OpenLDAP.

Note: the Developer Dictionary is in Beta. Please direct feedback to skye@statsig.com.