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What LDAPDisplayName means in Active Directory
Active Directory’s schema formally defines the object classes and attributes that can exist in a forest. Each attribute is represented by an attributeSchema object in the schema container. The object’s lDAPDisplayName field holds the name LDAP clients use to read and write that attribute. Microsoft’s protocol specification also states that this name is unique in the schema.
When a friendly property label does not work in an LDAP query, look up the attribute’s schema object and use its exact lDAPDisplayName value. The label shown in an administrative interface and the LDAP-facing attribute name serve different purposes.
Find an attribute’s LDAPDisplayName in the live domain
- Determine the domain’s schema naming context from RootDSE.
- Search that naming context for schema objects whose
objectClassisattributeSchema. - Inspect the candidate object’s
lDAPDisplayName,cn,adminDisplayName,schemaIDGUID, syntax, range, and single- or multi-value metadata. - Match the administrative label or schema description to the intended property, then copy the exact
lDAPDisplayNamestring into the LDAP filter or script. - Use the schema of the domain you will query as the final check, especially if Exchange, a third-party application, or a custom extension may have added attributes.
This lookup follows Microsoft’s descriptions of the schema container and attribute definitions. Microsoft’s Active Directory Schema overview explains the schema’s role; Characteristics of Attributes describes the fields on an attribute definition.
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Distinguish LDAPDisplayName from other schema fields
| Field | What it identifies | When it matters |
|---|---|---|
lDAPDisplayName |
The unique, LDAP-facing attribute name used by clients to read or write the attribute. | Use this name in ordinary LDAP queries and filters. |
adminDisplayName |
An administrative display label intended for tools and interfaces. | Use it to help recognize an attribute; do not assume it is the LDAP query name. |
cn |
The schema object’s naming value, or relative distinguished name (RDN). | It names the schema object and is not necessarily the name to query on a directory object. |
schemaIDGUID |
A binary GUID identifying the attribute for security descriptor operations. | Relevant to security descriptor work, not a substitute for lDAPDisplayName in ordinary LDAP reads. |
Check the attribute’s behavior before using it
Finding the LDAP-facing name identifies the field, but does not tell you everything about its values. The schema object also carries information such as syntax, range, and whether the attribute is single- or multi-valued. Inspect those properties when constructing a query or deciding how a script should handle results; two attributes with similar labels can have different data behavior.
For formal definitions, see Microsoft’s Active Directory Technical Specification. Its lDAPDisplayName definition describes the LDAP client name and its schema uniqueness.
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