👉 Directories computing, also known as directory services or directory-based systems, are software components that manage and maintain metadata about resources within a network, such as users, devices, applications, and data stores. These directories act as centralized repositories or catalogs that enable efficient discovery, access control, and management of resources. They facilitate communication and resource sharing between different services, applications, or users by providing a structured way to store and retrieve information about available resources. Key functionalities include user authentication, authorization, resource discovery, and maintaining consistency across distributed systems. Popular directory services include Active Directory (AD) in Windows environments, LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol), and more modern solutions like Google Cloud Directory, Azure Active Directory, and HashiCorp's Consul. By centralizing metadata, directories computing streamline network management and enhance security by enforcing access policies and controlling who can access what resources.
