---
title: Basic matching rule properties
description: The following table describes the standard elements in a matching rule schema definition.
component: pingdirectory
version: 11.0
page_id: pingdirectory:pingdirectory_server_administration_guide:pd_ds_basic_matching_rule_props
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingdirectory/11.0/pingdirectory_server_administration_guide/pd_ds_basic_matching_rule_props.html
revdate: September 13, 2023
---

# Basic matching rule properties

The following table describes the standard elements in a matching rule schema definition.

| Attributes           | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `Name`               | Specifies the descriptive and unique name of the element                                                                                                                                                            |
| `Description`        | Specifies an optional definition that describes the matching ruleThe analogous LDIF equivalent is `DESC`.                                                                                                           |
| `OID`                | Specifies the globally unique object identifier assigned to the schema definitionYou can obtain a specific OID for your company that allows you to define your own object classes and attributes from IANA or ANSI. |
| `Type`               | Specifies the type of matching rule:- `Equality`

- `Ordering`

- `Substring`

- `Approximate`                                                                                                                      |
| `Syntax`             | Specifies the matching rule syntax                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| `Used by Attributes` | Specifies any attributes that use the corresponding matching rule                                                                                                                                                   |