Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP): Syntaxes and Matching Rules
RFC 4517

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Network Working Group                                       S. Legg, Ed.
Request for Comments: 4517                                       eB2Bcom
Obsoletes: 2252, 2256                                          June 2006
Updates: 3698
Category: Standards Track

             Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP):
                      Syntaxes and Matching Rules

Status of This Memo

   This document specifies an Internet standards track protocol for the
   Internet community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
   improvements.  Please refer to the current edition of the "Internet
   Official Protocol Standards" (STD 1) for the standardization state
   and status of this protocol.  Distribution of this memo is unlimited.

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2006).

Abstract

   Each attribute stored in a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol
   (LDAP) directory, whose values may be transferred in the LDAP
   protocol, has a defined syntax that constrains the structure and
   format of its values.  The comparison semantics for values of a
   syntax are not part of the syntax definition but are instead provided
   through separately defined matching rules.  Matching rules specify an
   argument, an assertion value, which also has a defined syntax.  This
   document defines a base set of syntaxes and matching rules for use in
   defining attributes for LDAP directories.

Table of Contents

   1. Introduction ....................................................3
   2. Conventions .....................................................4
   3. Syntaxes ........................................................4
      3.1. General Considerations .....................................5
      3.2. Common Definitions .........................................5
      3.3. Syntax Definitions .........................................6
           3.3.1. Attribute Type Description ..........................6
           3.3.2. Bit String ..........................................6
           3.3.3. Boolean .............................................7
           3.3.4. Country String ......................................7
           3.3.5. Delivery Method .....................................8

Legg                        Standards Track                     [Page 1]
RFC 4517           LDAP: Syntaxes and Matching Rules           June 2006

           3.3.6. Directory String ....................................8
           3.3.7. DIT Content Rule Description ........................9
           3.3.8. DIT Structure Rule Description .....................10
           3.3.9. DN .................................................10
           3.3.10. Enhanced Guide ....................................11
           3.3.11. Facsimile Telephone Number ........................12
           3.3.12. Fax ...............................................12
           3.3.13. Generalized Time ..................................13
           3.3.14. Guide .............................................14
           3.3.15. IA5 String ........................................15
           3.3.16. Integer ...........................................15
           3.3.17. JPEG ..............................................15
           3.3.18. LDAP Syntax Description ...........................16
           3.3.19. Matching Rule Description .........................16
           3.3.20. Matching Rule Use Description .....................17
           3.3.21. Name and Optional UID .............................17
           3.3.22. Name Form Description .............................18
           3.3.23. Numeric String ....................................18
           3.3.24. Object Class Description ..........................18
           3.3.25. Octet String ......................................19
           3.3.26. OID ...............................................19
           3.3.27. Other Mailbox .....................................20
           3.3.28. Postal Address ....................................20
           3.3.29. Printable String ..................................21
           3.3.30. Substring Assertion ...............................22
           3.3.31. Telephone Number ..................................23
           3.3.32. Teletex Terminal Identifier .......................23
           3.3.33. Telex Number ......................................24
           3.3.34. UTC Time ..........................................24
   4. Matching Rules .................................................25
      4.1. General Considerations ....................................25
      4.2. Matching Rule Definitions .................................27
           4.2.1. bitStringMatch .....................................27
           4.2.2. booleanMatch .......................................28
           4.2.3. caseExactIA5Match ..................................28
           4.2.4. caseExactMatch .....................................29