Policy Server Guides › Policy Server Configuration Guide › User Directories › Named Expressions › Define Named Expressions › Virtual User Attributes

Virtual User Attributes

A virtual user attribute lets you define a re-usable expression to calculate user information. You use this type of expression when the user attribute is not uniquely referenced by the user directory. Rather, the user attribute must be calculated using attributes and other criteria that is established by business logic.

Virtual user attributes name expressions that result in values having one of the following data types:

• string
• number
• Boolean

Virtual user attributes are prefixed by the "pound" sign (#). The "pound" sign prevents name clashes with user attribute names and mappings and is a visual reminder that the user attribute value is calculated.

As an expression, a virtual user attribute can include:

• User attributes, either directory-specific or mapped
• References to other named expressions
• SiteMinder built-in functions and expression syntax