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 on a client-server model, where the client sends requests to the server, which then responds with the requested data. It is designed to be lightweight, making it efficient for accessing large amounts of directory information. Many organizations use LDAP for centralized user management and to streamline access control across their networks.