The Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) is a protocol used to access and manage directory information over a network. It allows users to query and modify directory services, which store information about users, groups, and resources in a structured format. LDAP is commonly used for authentication and authorization in various applications and systems. LDAP operates over a client-server model, where clients send requests to a server that holds the directory data. It uses a hierarchical structure to organize information, making it efficient for searching and retrieving data. This protocol is widely implemented in enterprise environments for managing user identities and access control.