This section gives an overview of the LDAP operational model
How LDAP works
In principle the LDAP protocol follows a request/reply scenario between client and server. Unlike HTTP this not necessarily takes place synchronously in a ping-pong exchange. A client may also execute several requests by a server within a session simultaneously. The client supplies a MessageID with each request. The server uses this ID within the corresponding reply. This allows the client to match requests and replies.
All LDAP operations
The operational model of LDAP v3 is comprised of the the following 10 operations.
| LDAP Operation | Short description |
|---|---|
| Bind Operation | exchange authentication information between client and server |
| Unbind Operation | terminate a protocol session |
| Search Operation | perform a search by the server |
| Modify Operation | modify attributes of an entry |
| Add Operation | add an entry into the directory |
| Delete Operation | remove an entry from the directory |
| Modify DN Operation | change the leftmost component of the name of an entry, or move a subtree of entries to a new location |
| Compare Operation | compare an assertion provided with an entry in the directory |
| Abandon Operation | abandon an outstanding operation |
| Extended Operation | perform an additional operation, defined in RFCs or be private to particular implementations |
Resources
- RFC 2251
Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (v3)