---
title: Use HDAP
description: This guide shows you how to use the DS HTTP Directory Access Protocol (HDAP) APIs for REST-based HTTP access to directory services. HDAP transforms HTTP operations into LDAP operations and maps JSON resources to LDAP entries.
component: pingds
version: 7.4
page_id: pingds:rest-guide:preface
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingds/8.1/rest-guide/preface.html
llms_txt: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingds/llms.txt
docs_for_agents: https://developer.pingidentity.com/build-with-ai/docs-for-agents.md
revdate: 2025-08-21T16:45:32Z
keywords: ["REST API"]
page_aliases: ["index.adoc"]
superseded_by: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingds/8.1/rest-guide/preface.html
---

# Use HDAP

This guide shows you how to use the DS **H**TTP **D**irectory **A**ccess **P**rotocol (HDAP) APIs for REST-based HTTP access to directory services. HDAP transforms HTTP operations into LDAP operations and maps JSON resources to LDAP entries.

|   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| - | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|   | The interface stability for HDAP is *Technology Preview*. Technology previews offer access to new technology ForgeRock doesn't support yet. They may be functionally incomplete and subject to change without notice. For details, refer to [Interface stability](https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingds/release-notes/stability.html).REST to LDAP remains supported [as documented for DS 7.3](https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingds/7.3/rest-guide/preface.html). The interface stability for REST to LDAP is *Deprecated* in favor of HDAP for future applications. |

[icon: plus, set=fas, size=3x]

#### [Create](create-rest.html)

Create resources over HTTP.

[icon: book, set=fas, size=3x]

#### [Read](read-rest.html)

Read resources over HTTP.

[icon: edit, set=fas, size=3x]

#### [Update](update-rest.html)

Update resources over HTTP.

[icon: times, set=fas, size=3x]

#### [Delete](delete-rest.html)

Delete resources over HTTP.

[icon: search, set=fas, size=3x]

#### [Search](query-rest.html)

Query DS over HTTP.

[icon: user-secret, set=fas, size=3x]

#### [Passwords/Accounts](action-rest.html)

Manage passwords and accounts.