X.500 is a series of standards specified by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for directory services. It defines a framework for accessing and managing directory information, which can include details about users, organizations, and resources in a network. The primary component of X.500 is the Directory Information Base (DIB), which stores the directory entries. It uses a hierarchical structure to organize this information, allowing users to efficiently search and retrieve data. X.500 is often implemented in conjunction with the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) for easier access in various applications.