---
title: Viewing attributes
description: View attribute types and their properties on your PingDirectory server using the Schema Editor or LDAP.
component: pingdirectory
version: 10.2
page_id: pingdirectory:pingdirectory_server_administration_guide:pd_ds_view_attributes
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingdirectory/11.1/pingdirectory_server_administration_guide/pd_ds_view_attributes.html
llms_txt: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingdirectory/llms.txt
docs_for_agents: https://developer.pingidentity.com/build-with-ai/docs-for-agents.md
revdate: 2023-09-13T00:00:00Z
page_aliases: ["pd_ds_view_attr_types_schema_editor.adoc", "pd_ds_view_attr_types_over_ldap.adoc", "pd_ds_view_specific_attr_type_over_ldap.adoc"]
superseded_by: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingdirectory/11.1/pingdirectory_server_administration_guide/pd_ds_view_attributes.html
section_ids:
  viewing-attribute-types-using-the-schema-editor: Viewing attribute types using the Schema Editor
  before-you-begin: Before you begin
  about-this-task: About this task
  steps: Steps
  example: Example:
  viewing-attribute-types-over-ldap: Viewing attribute types over LDAP
  steps-2: Steps
  example-2: Example:
  viewing-a-specific-attribute-type-over-ldap: Viewing a specific attribute type over LDAP
  steps-3: Steps
  example-3: Example:
---

# Viewing attributes

The Schema Editor displays all of the attribute types on your PingDirectory server instance.

It shows the basic properties that are required elements in addition to the extra properties that are allowed within the attribute definition.

## Viewing attribute types using the Schema Editor

### Before you begin

Ensure that the PingDirectory server instance is running.

### About this task

To view attribute types using the Schema Editor:

### Steps

1. Start the administrative console.

2. In the main menu, select **Schema**.

3. In the **Schema Editor**, click the **Attribute Types** tab.

4. Click a specific attribute to view its definition.

   In the **Object Class** window, view the attribute properties.

   #### Example:

   To follow this example, click the `account` attribute.

   ![A screen capture of the Object Class attribute window displaying sample data for the Basic Properties of the account attribute.](_images/ezh1564011413298.png)

5. To see the equivalent attribute definition in ASN.1 format, click the **View as LDIF** button.

## Viewing attribute types over LDAP

### Steps

* To view an operational attribute, run `ldapsearch`.

  #### Example:

  This example uses `ldapsearch` to view the multi-valued operational attribute `attributeTypes`, which publishes the definitions on the PingDirectory server.

  |   |                                                    |
  | - | -------------------------------------------------- |
  |   | The attribute is stored in the subschema subentry. |

  ```shell
  $ bin/ldapsearch --baseDN cn=schema --searchScope base \
    "(objectclass=*)" attributeTypes
  ```

## Viewing a specific attribute type over LDAP

### Steps

* To search for a specific attribute, run `ldapsearch` with the `--dontWrap` option and use the `grep` command.

  #### Example:

  ```shell
  $ bin/ldapsearch --baseDN cn=schema \
    --searchScope base --dontWrap "(objectclass=*)" \
    attributeTypes | grep 'personalTitle'
  ```