RFC 2425 (rfc2425) - Page 1 of 33

A MIME Content-Type for Directory Information

Network Working Group                                         T. Howes
Request for Comments: 2425                                    M. Smith
Category: Standards Track                Netscape Communications Corp.
                                                             F. Dawson
                                         Lotus Development Corporation
                                                        September 1998


             A MIME Content-Type for Directory Information

Status of this Memo

   This document specifies an Internet standards track protocol for the
   Internet community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
   improvements.  Please refer to the current edition of the "Internet
   Official Protocol Standards" (STD 1) for the standardization state
   and status of this protocol.  Distribution of this memo is unlimited.

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (C) The Internet Society (1998).  All Rights Reserved.

1.  Abstract

   This document defines a MIME Content-Type for holding directory
   information.  The definition is independent of any particular
   directory service or protocol.  The text/directory Content-Type is
   defined for holding a variety of directory information, for example,
   name, or email address, or logo. The text/directory Content-Type can
   also be used as the root body part in a multipart/related Content-
   Type for handling more complicated situations, especially those in
   which non-textual information that already has a natural MIME
   representation, for example, a photograph or sound, is to be
   represented.

   The text/directory Content-Type defines a general framework and
   format for holding directory information in a simple "type:value"
   form. We refer to "type" in this context meaning a property or
   attribute with which the value is associated. Mechanisms are defined
   to specify alternate languages, encodings and other meta-information.
   This document also defines the procedure by which particular formats,
   called profiles, for carrying application-specific information within
   a text/directory Content-Type can be defined and registered, and the
   conventions such formats must follow. It is expected that other
   documents will be produced that define such formats for various
   applications (e.g., white pages).





Howes, et. al.              Standards Track