name: Microsoft Active Directory
description: Microsoft Active Directory (AD) is a directory service developed by Microsoft for Windows domain networks. It provides authentication and authorization services, centralized domain management, and directory services.
image: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/identity/ad-ds/media/active-directory-domain-services.png
created: '2024'
modified: '2026-04-28'
specificationVersion: '0.18'
url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/identity/ad-ds/
tags:
  - Authentication
  - Authorization
  - Directory Services
  - Enterprise
  - Identity
  - Ldap
  - Windows
apis:
  - name: Microsoft Graph API (Azure AD)
    description: >-
      REST API for accessing Azure Active Directory resources including users, groups,
      applications, and directory data.
    image: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/graph/images/microsoft-graph.png
    humanURL: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/graph/overview
    baseURL: https://graph.microsoft.com
    tags:
      - Azure
      - Groups
      - Identity
      - Rest
      - Users
    properties:
      - type: Documentation
        url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/graph/api/overview
      - type: OpenAPI
        url: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/microsoftgraph/microsoft-graph-openapi/master/openapi/v1.0/openapi.yaml
      - type: Authentication
        url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/graph/auth/
      - type: SDKs
        url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/graph/sdks/sdks-overview
      - type: Pricing
        url: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/details/active-directory/
    contact:
      - FN: Microsoft Support
        url: https://support.microsoft.com
  - name: LDAP Protocol Interface
    description: >-
      Lightweight Directory Access Protocol interface for querying and modifying Active
      Directory.
    humanURL: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/desktop/ldap/lightweight-directory-access-protocol-ldap-api
    baseURL: ldap://[domain-controller]:389
    tags:
      - Directory
      - Ldap
      - Protocol
      - Queries
    properties:
      - type: Documentation
        url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/ad/active-directory-ldap
      - type: Protocol Specification
        url: https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc4511
      - type: Examples
        url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/ad/example-code-for-searching-active-directory
  - name: PowerShell Active Directory Module
    description: >-
      PowerShell cmdlets for managing Active Directory Domain Services.
    humanURL: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/activedirectory/
    tags:
      - Administration
      - Automation
      - Powershell
      - Scripting
    properties:
      - type: Documentation
        url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/activedirectory/
      - type: Getting Started
        url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/activedirectory/get-aduser
      - type: Examples
        url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/scripting/samples/sample-scripts-for-administration
  - name: Azure AD Graph API (Deprecated)
    description: >-
      Legacy REST API for Azure Active Directory (being replaced by Microsoft Graph).
    humanURL: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/azure/ad/graph/
    baseURL: https://graph.windows.net
    tags:
      - Azure
      - Deprecated
      - Legacy
      - Rest
    properties:
      - type: Documentation
        url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/azure/ad/graph/api/api-catalog
      - type: Migration Guide
        url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/graph/migrate-azure-ad-graph-overview
      - type: Deprecation Notice
        url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/graph/migrate-azure-ad-graph-overview
maintainers:
  - FN: Microsoft Corporation
    email: support@microsoft.com
    url: https://www.microsoft.com
common:
  - type: Terms of Service
    url: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/servicesagreement
  - type: Privacy Policy
    url: https://privacy.microsoft.com/en-us/privacystatement
  - type: Service Status
    url: https://status.azure.com/
  - type: Blog
    url: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-entra-azure-ad-blog/bg-p/Identity
  - type: Support
    url: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server