Directory (databases)
The word
directory is used in
computing and
telephony meaning a
repository or
database of information. A directory, as opposed to a conventional
database, is heavily optimized for reading, with the assumption that data updates are very rare compared to data reads. Commonly, a directory supports search and browsing in addition to simple lookups.
A website which offer access to a categorized listing of other websites optimized for lookup, search, or browsing is a directory, a
web directory. The
Open Directory Project is an example of a web directory.
Directory techology is often used in
white page applications and network information services.
WHOIS is a prominent example of directory service providing white pages.
The
Domain Name System (DNS) is a prominent example of directory service providing a network information service. DNS is also an example of a
distributed hierarchical directory service that only has simple lookup capabilities.
The
X.500 and
LDAP directory services are examples of general-purpose distributed hierarchical
object-oriented directory technologies. Both offer complex searching and browsing capabilities are used for white pages, network information services,
public key infrastructure, and a wide range of other applications.
*
database*
directory service*
web directory
