LDAP Directories Explained: An Introduction and Analysis

Chapter 4. LDAP Schema

Chapter 1 introduced the schema and its importance. The schema defines the rules that govern much of what the LDAP directory can do. When you change the rules of a game, the game can change significantly. The nice thing about the schema is that users interacting with the directory usually don't need to be aware of it, and certainly they don't need to understand how it works.

The schema holds a central importance, which is hidden from users

The schema determines the type of data a directory holds

But the schema defines more than just the rules of interaction; it defines what kinds of entries can be created in the directory. It defines what information the directory can store. So modifying the schema can greatly increase the ...