Difference between revisions of "Directory service"

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(Def.)
 
(cf)
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A '''directory service''' is a software system that stores, organizes, and provides access to information in a computer operating system's directory.  
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A '''directory service''' is a [[software]] system that stores, organizes, and provides access to [[information]] in a [[computer]] [[Operating system|operating system]]'s [[directory]].  
  
In software engineering, a directory is a map between names and values. It allows the lookup of named values, similar to a dictionary. As a word in a dictionary may have multiple definitions, a directory service can associate a name with multiple, different pieces of information. Likewise, as a word may have different parts of speech and different definitions, a name in a directory may have many different types of data.
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In [[software engineering]], a ''directory'' is a [[map]] between [[names]] and [[values]]. It allows the lookup of named values, similar to a dictionary. As a word in a dictionary may have multiple definitions, a directory service can associate a name with multiple, different pieces of information. Likewise, as a word may have different parts of speech and different definitions, a name in a directory may have many different types of data.
  
Directories may be very narrow in scope, supporting only a small set of node types and data types, or they may be very broad, supporting an arbitrary or extensible set of types.  
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Directories may be very narrow in scope, supporting only a small set of node types and [[Data type|data types]], or they may be very broad, supporting an arbitrary or extensible set of types.  
  
 
Examples:
 
Examples:
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* In the DNS the nodes are domain names and the data items are IP addresses (and alias, mail server names, etc.).  
 
* In the DNS the nodes are domain names and the data items are IP addresses (and alias, mail server names, etc.).  
 
* In a directory used by a network operating system, the nodes represent resources that are managed by the OS, including users, computers, printers and other shared resources.
 
* In a directory used by a network operating system, the nodes represent resources that are managed by the OS, including users, computers, printers and other shared resources.
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== See also ==
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* [[Computer]]
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* [[Operating system]]
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* [[Software engineering]]
  
 
== External Links ==
 
== External Links ==
  
 
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directory_service Directory service] @ Wikipedia
 
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directory_service Directory service] @ Wikipedia

Revision as of 14:57, 29 August 2015

A directory service is a software system that stores, organizes, and provides access to information in a computer operating system's directory.

In software engineering, a directory is a map between names and values. It allows the lookup of named values, similar to a dictionary. As a word in a dictionary may have multiple definitions, a directory service can associate a name with multiple, different pieces of information. Likewise, as a word may have different parts of speech and different definitions, a name in a directory may have many different types of data.

Directories may be very narrow in scope, supporting only a small set of node types and data types, or they may be very broad, supporting an arbitrary or extensible set of types.

Examples:

  • In a telephone directory, the nodes are names and the data items are telephone numbers.
  • In the DNS the nodes are domain names and the data items are IP addresses (and alias, mail server names, etc.).
  • In a directory used by a network operating system, the nodes represent resources that are managed by the OS, including users, computers, printers and other shared resources.

See also

External Links