Administration Guide › Set Up Schemas › Object Classes and Object Class Identifiers › Object Class Kind › Abstract Classes

Abstract Classes

The abstract object class determines the structure of an LDAP directory. The object class top, for example, is the root object class from which all structural object classes are derived. It contains one mandatory attribute, objectClass, and because all entries inherit its attributes, it ensures that an object class defines these entries.

An abstract object class cannot stand alone in an entry. The entry must also contain a structural object class.