Difference between revisions of "Directory service"
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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]]. | A '''directory service''' is a [[software]] system that stores, organizes, and provides access to [[information]] in a [[computer]] [[Operating system|operating system]]'s [[directory]]. | ||
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| + | == Description == | ||
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. | 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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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. | 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 == |
* In a telephone directory, the nodes are names and the data items are telephone numbers. | * In a telephone directory, the nodes are names and the data items are telephone numbers. | ||
| − | * In the | + | * In the [[Domain Name Server]] the nodes are domain names and the data items are [[IP address|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. | ||
Revision as of 08:44, 2 September 2015
A directory service is a software system that stores, organizes, and provides access to information in a computer operating system's directory.
Description
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 Domain Name Server 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
- Directory service @ Wikipedia
