---
title: Basic properties of attributes
description: The following table details the standard elements in schema definition.
component: pingdirectory
version: 11.0
page_id: pingdirectory:pingdirectory_server_administration_guide:pd_ds_basic_props_attributes
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingdirectory/11.0/pingdirectory_server_administration_guide/pd_ds_basic_props_attributes.html
revdate: September 13, 2023
---

# Basic properties of attributes

The following table details the standard elements in schema definition.

**Basic Properties of Attributes**

| Attributes           | Description                                                                                                                                                                               |
| -------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `Name`               | The globally unique name                                                                                                                                                                  |
| `Description`        | An optional definition that describes the attribute and its contentsThe LDIF equivalent is `DESC`.                                                                                        |
| `OID`                | The 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. |
| `Syntax`             | The attribute syntax usedFor example, the `userPassword` attribute uses the User Password Syntax whereas the `authPassword` attribute uses the Authentication Password Syntax.            |
| `Parent`             | The schema definition's parent or supertype, if anyThe analogous LDIF equivalent is `SUP`.                                                                                                |
| `Multivalued`        | Specifies if the attribute can appear more than once in its containing object class                                                                                                       |
| `Required By Class`  | Specifies any object classes that require the attribute                                                                                                                                   |
| `Allowed By Class`   | Specifies any object classes that can optionally use the attribute                                                                                                                        |
| `Value Restrictions` | Specifies any restriction on the value of the attribute                                                                                                                                   |

The Additional Properties table details auxiliary information associated with the attribute.

| Attributes        | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| ----------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `Aliases`         | Any shortform alias names, if anyYou can have any number of shortform names as long as they are all unique. The analogous LDIF equivalent appears as the secondary element with the `NAME` element. For example, `NAME`, `sn`, `surname`. |
| `Origin`          | The origin of the schema definitionTypically, it could refer to a specific RFC or company.                                                                                                                                                |
| `Stored in File`  | Specifies the schema file that stores the definition in the `<server-root>/config/schema` folder                                                                                                                                          |
| `Usage`           | The intended use of the attributeThe choices are:- `userApplications`

- `directoryOperation`

- `distributedOperation`

- `dSAOperation`                                                                                                 |
| `User-Modifiable` | Specifies if the attribute can be modified by an authorized user                                                                                                                                                                          |
| `Obsolete`        | Specifies if the schema definition is obsolete or not                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| `Matching Rules`  | Specifies the associated matching rules for the attribute                                                                                                                                                                                 |