Difference between revisions of "Directory service"
Karl Jones (Talk | contribs) (Def.) |
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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. | + | 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. | + | 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. | + | 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. | ||
+ | |||
+ | == See also == | ||
+ | |||
+ | * [[Computer]] | ||
+ | * [[Operating system]] | ||
+ | * [[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 13:57, 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
- Directory service @ Wikipedia