CONFIGURING

Using search filters with ldapsearch

You must use a search filter to specify the attributes for which to search.

About this task

The syntax for a search filter is:

"attribute operator value"

For example, this search filter finds all entries containing Smith as the value for the sn (surname) attribute:

"sn=Smith"

You can specify any attribute stored in a directory in a search filter. The following are common attributes used to search for entries about people:


You can specify search filters on the ldapsearch command line, or you can specify them in a file and use the ldapsearch parameter -f to refer to the file. If you use a file, specify each search filter on a separate line.

Note you can include language tags in a search filter if the LDAP directory, such as the Domino® Directory, supports them. For example:

"givenName;lang-fr=Etienne"

Multiple search filters with Boolean operators

About this task

You can use multiple search filters and Boolean operators. Use this syntax:

"(operator(filter)(filter))"

For example, use this search filter to find entries with the surname Browning and the location Dallas.

"(&(sn=Browning)(l=Dallas))"

You can nest Boolean operators. For example, use this search filter to find entries with the surname Caneel or givenname Alfred in the mail domain MDN:

"(&(maildomain=MDN)(|(sn=caneel)(givenname=alfred)))"

Related concepts
ldapsearch utility

Related tasks
Table of operators used in ldapsearch search filters
Table of ldapsearch parameters
Using ldapsearch to return operational attributes
Examples of using ldapsearch