LdapName (Java Platform SE 8 )
Keywords: javax.naming.ldap.LdapName class
Date: 2026-03-16

compact3
javax.naming.ldap

## Class LdapName

- java.lang.Object
- - javax.naming.ldap.LdapName

- All Implemented Interfaces:
    Serializable, Cloneable, Comparable<Object>, Name

      public class LdapName
      extends Object
      implements Name

  This class represents a distinguished name as specified by RFC 2253. A distinguished name, or DN, is composed of an ordered list of components called relative distinguished names, or RDNs. Details of a DN's syntax are described in RFC 2253.

  This class resolves a few ambiguities found in RFC 2253 as follows:

  - RFC 2253 leaves the term "whitespace" undefined. The ASCII space character 0x20 (" ") is used in its place.
  - Whitespace is allowed on either side of ',', ';', '=', and '+'. Such whitespace is accepted but not generated by this code, and is ignored when comparing names.
  - AttributeValue strings containing '=' or non-leading '#' characters (unescaped) are accepted.

  String names passed to `LdapName` or returned by it use the full Unicode character set. They may also contain characters encoded into UTF-8 with each octet represented by a three-character substring such as "\\B4". They may not, however, contain characters encoded into UTF-8 with each octet represented by a single character in the string: the meaning would be ambiguous.

  `LdapName` will properly parse all valid names, but does not attempt to detect all possible violations when parsing invalid names. It is "generous" in accepting invalid names. The "validity" of a name is determined ultimately when it is supplied to an LDAP server, which may accept or reject the name based on factors such as its schema information and interoperability considerations.

  When names are tested for equality, attribute types, both binary and string values, are case-insensitive. String values with different but equivalent usage of quoting, escaping, or UTF8-hex-encoding are considered equal. The order of components in multi-valued RDNs (such as "ou=Sales+cn=Bob") is not significant.

  The components of a LDAP name, that is, RDNs, are numbered. The indexes of a LDAP name with n RDNs range from 0 to n-1. This range may be written as [0,n). The right most RDN is at index 0, and the left most RDN is at index n-1. For example, the distinguished name: "CN=Steve Kille, O=Isode Limited, C=GB" is numbered in the following sequence ranging from 0 to 2: {C=GB, O=Isode Limited, CN=Steve Kille}. An empty LDAP name is represented by an empty RDN list.

  Concurrent multithreaded read-only access of an instance of `LdapName` need not be synchronized.

  Unless otherwise noted, the behavior of passing a null argument to a constructor or method in this class will cause a NullPointerException to be thrown.

  Since:
    1.5
  See Also:
    Serialized Form

- - ### Constructor Summary

    Constructors
    Constructor and Description
    `LdapName(List<Rdn> rdns)` Constructs an LDAP name given its parsed RDN components.
    `LdapName(String name)` Constructs an LDAP name from the given distinguished name.

  - ### Method Summary

    All Methods Instance Methods Concrete Methods
    Modifier and Type | Method and Description
    --- | ---
    `Name` | `add(int posn, Rdn comp)` Adds a single RDN at a specified position within this LDAP name.
    `Name` | `add(int posn, String comp)` Adds a single component at a specified position within this LDAP name.
    `Name` | `add(Rdn comp)` Adds a single RDN to the end of this LDAP name.
    `Name` | `add(String comp)` Adds a single component to the end of this LDAP name.
    `Name` | `addAll(int posn, List<Rdn> suffixRdns)` Adds the RDNs of a name -- in order -- at a specified position within this name.
    `Name` | `addAll(int posn, Name suffix)` Adds the components of a name -- in order -- at a specified position within this name.
    `Name` | `addAll(List<Rdn> suffixRdns)` Adds the RDNs of a name -- in order -- to the end of this name.
    `Name` | `addAll(Name suffix)` Adds the components of a name -- in order -- to the end of this name.
    `Object` | `clone()` Generates a new copy of this name.
    `int` | `compareTo(Object obj)` Compares this LdapName with the specified Object for order.
    `boolean` | `endsWith(List<Rdn> rdns)` Determines whether the specified RDN sequence forms a suffix of this LDAP name.
    `boolean` | `endsWith(Name n)` Determines whether this LDAP name ends with a specified LDAP name suffix.
    `boolean` | `equals(Object obj)` Determines whether two LDAP names are equal.
    `String` | `get(int posn)` Retrieves a component of this LDAP name as a string.
    `Enumeration<String>` | `getAll()` Retrieves the components of this name as an enumeration of strings.
    `Name` | `getPrefix(int posn)` Creates a name whose components consist of a prefix of the components of this LDAP name.
    `Rdn` | `getRdn(int posn)` Retrieves an RDN of this LDAP name as an Rdn.
    `List<Rdn>` | `getRdns()` Retrieves the list of relative distinguished names.
    `Name` | `getSuffix(int posn)` Creates a name whose components consist of a suffix of the components in this LDAP name.
    `int` | `hashCode()` Computes the hash code of this LDAP name.
    `boolean` | `isEmpty()` Determines whether this LDAP name is empty.
    `Object` | `remove(int posn)` Removes a component from this LDAP name.
    `int` | `size()` Retrieves the number of components in this LDAP name.
    `boolean` | `startsWith(List<Rdn> rdns)` Determines whether the specified RDN sequence forms a prefix of this LDAP name.
    `boolean` | `startsWith(Name n)` Determines whether this LDAP name starts with a specified LDAP name prefix.
    `String` | `toString()` Returns a string representation of this LDAP name in a format defined by RFC 2253 and described in the class description.

    - ### Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

      `finalize, getClass, notify, notifyAll, wait, wait, wait`

- - ### Constructor Detail

    - #### LdapName

          public LdapName(String name)
                   throws InvalidNameException

      Constructs an LDAP name from the given distinguished name.
      Parameters:
        `name` - This is a non-null distinguished name formatted according to the rules defined in RFC 2253.
      Throws:
        `InvalidNameException` - if a syntax violation is detected.
      See Also:
        `Rdn.escapeValue(Object value)`

    - #### LdapName

          public LdapName(List<Rdn> rdns)

      Constructs an LDAP name given its parsed RDN components.

      The indexing of RDNs in the list follows the numbering of RDNs described in the class description.

      Parameters:
        `rdns` - The non-null list of `Rdn`s forming this LDAP name.

  - ### Method Detail

    - #### size

          public int size()

      Retrieves the number of components in this LDAP name.
      Specified by:
        `size` in interface `Name`
      Returns:
        The non-negative number of components in this LDAP name.

    - #### isEmpty

          public boolean isEmpty()

      Determines whether this LDAP name is empty. An empty name is one with zero components.
      Specified by:
        `isEmpty` in interface `Name`
      Returns:
        true if this LDAP name is empty, false otherwise.

    - #### getAll

          public Enumeration<String> getAll()

      Retrieves the components of this name as an enumeration of strings. The effect of updates to this name on this enumeration is undefined. If the name has zero components, an empty (non-null) enumeration is returned. The order of the components returned by the enumeration is same as the order in which the components are numbered as described in the class description.
      Specified by:
        `getAll` in interface `Name`
      Returns:
        A non-null enumeration of the components of this LDAP name. Each element of the enumeration is of class String.

    - #### get

          public String get(int posn)

      Retrieves a component of this LDAP name as a string.
      Specified by:
        `get` in interface `Name`
      Parameters:
        `posn` - The 0-based index of the component to retrieve. Must be in the range [0,size()).
      Returns:
        The non-null component at index posn.
      Throws:
        `IndexOutOfBoundsException` - if posn is outside the specified range.

    - #### getRdn

          public Rdn getRdn(int posn)

      Retrieves an RDN of this LDAP name as an Rdn.
      Parameters:
        `posn` - The 0-based index of the RDN to retrieve. Must be in the range [0,size()).
      Returns:
        The non-null RDN at index posn.
      Throws:
        `IndexOutOfBoundsException` - if posn is outside the specified range.

    - #### getPrefix

          public Name getPrefix(int posn)

      Creates a name whose components consist of a prefix of the components of this LDAP name. Subsequent changes to this name will not affect the name that is returned and vice versa.
      Specified by:
        `getPrefix` in interface `Name`
      Parameters:
        `posn` - The 0-based index of the component at which to stop. Must be in the range [0,size()].
      Returns:
        An instance of `LdapName` consisting of the components at indexes in the range [0,posn). If posn is zero, an empty LDAP name is returned.
      Throws:
        `IndexOutOfBoundsException` - If posn is outside the specified range.

    - #### getSuffix

          public Name getSuffix(int posn)

      Creates a name whose components consist of a suffix of the components in this LDAP name. Subsequent changes to this name do not affect the name that is returned and vice versa.
      Specified by:
        `getSuffix` in interface `Name`
      Parameters:
        `posn` - The 0-based index of the component at which to start. Must be in the range [0,size()].
      Returns:
        An instance of `LdapName` consisting of the components at indexes in the range [posn,size()). If posn is equal to size(), an empty LDAP name is returned.
      Throws:
        `IndexOutOfBoundsException` - If posn is outside the specified range.

    - #### startsWith

          public boolean startsWith(Name n)

      Determines whether this LDAP name starts with a specified LDAP name prefix. A name `n` is a prefix if it is equal to `getPrefix(n.size())`--in other words this LDAP name starts with 'n'. If n is null or not a RFC2253 formatted name as described in the class description, false is returned.
      Specified by:
        `startsWith` in interface `Name`
      Parameters:
        `n` - The LDAP name to check.
      Returns:
        true if `n` is a prefix of this LDAP name, false otherwise.
      See Also:
        `getPrefix(int posn)`

    - #### startsWith

          public boolean startsWith(List<Rdn> rdns)

      Determines whether the specified RDN sequence forms a prefix of this LDAP name. Returns true if this LdapName is at least as long as rdns, and for every position p in the range [0, rdns.size()) the component getRdn(p) matches rdns.get(p). Returns false otherwise. If rdns is null, false is returned.
      Parameters:
        `rdns` - The sequence of `Rdn`s to check.
      Returns:
        true if `rdns` form a prefix of this LDAP name, false otherwise.

    - #### endsWith

          public boolean endsWith(Name n)

      Determines whether this LDAP name ends with a specified LDAP name suffix. A name `n` is a suffix if it is equal to `getSuffix(size()-n.size())`--in other words this LDAP name ends with 'n'. If n is null or not a RFC2253 formatted name as described in the class description, false is returned.
      Specified by:
        `endsWith` in interface `Name`
      Parameters:
        `n` - The LDAP name to check.
      Returns:
        true if `n` is a suffix of this name, false otherwise.
      See Also:
        `getSuffix(int posn)`

    - #### endsWith

          public boolean endsWith(List<Rdn> rdns)

      Determines whether the specified RDN sequence forms a suffix of this LDAP name. Returns true if this LdapName is at least as long as rdns, and for every position p in the range [size() - rdns.size(), size()) the component getRdn(p) matches rdns.get(p). Returns false otherwise. If rdns is null, false is returned.
      Parameters:
        `rdns` - The sequence of `Rdn`s to check.
      Returns:
        true if `rdns` form a suffix of this LDAP name, false otherwise.

    - #### addAll

          public Name addAll(Name suffix)
                      throws InvalidNameException

      Adds the components of a name -- in order -- to the end of this name.
      Specified by:
        `addAll` in interface `Name`
      Parameters:
        `suffix` - The non-null components to add.
      Returns:
        The updated name (not a new instance).
      Throws:
        `InvalidNameException` - if `suffix` is not a valid LDAP name, or if the addition of the components would violate the syntax rules of this LDAP name.

    - #### addAll

          public Name addAll(List<Rdn> suffixRdns)

      Adds the RDNs of a name -- in order -- to the end of this name.
      Parameters:
        `suffixRdns` - The non-null suffix `Rdn`s to add.
      Returns:
        The updated name (not a new instance).

    - #### addAll

          public Name addAll(int posn,
                             Name suffix)
                      throws InvalidNameException

      Adds the components of a name -- in order -- at a specified position within this name. Components of this LDAP name at or after the index (if any) of the first new component are shifted up (away from index 0) to accommodate the new components.
      Specified by:
        `addAll` in interface `Name`
      Parameters:
        `suffix` - The non-null components to add.
        `posn` - The index at which to add the new component. Must be in the range [0,size()].
      Returns:
        The updated name (not a new instance).
      Throws:
        `InvalidNameException` - if `suffix` is not a valid LDAP name, or if the addition of the components would violate the syntax rules of this LDAP name.
        `IndexOutOfBoundsException` - If posn is outside the specified range.

    - #### addAll

          public Name addAll(int posn,
                             List<Rdn> suffixRdns)

      Adds the RDNs of a name -- in order -- at a specified position within this name. RDNs of this LDAP name at or after the index (if any) of the first new RDN are shifted up (away from index 0) to accommodate the new RDNs.
      Parameters:
        `suffixRdns` - The non-null suffix `Rdn`s to add.
        `posn` - The index at which to add the suffix RDNs. Must be in the range [0,size()].
      Returns:
        The updated name (not a new instance).
      Throws:
        `IndexOutOfBoundsException` - If posn is outside the specified range.

    - #### add

          public Name add(String comp)
                   throws InvalidNameException

      Adds a single component to the end of this LDAP name.
      Specified by:
        `add` in interface `Name`
      Parameters:
        `comp` - The non-null component to add.
      Returns:
        The updated LdapName, not a new instance. Cannot be null.
      Throws:
        `InvalidNameException` - If adding comp at end of the name would violate the name's syntax.

    - #### add

          public Name add(Rdn comp)

      Adds a single RDN to the end of this LDAP name.
      Parameters:
        `comp` - The non-null RDN to add.
      Returns:
        The updated LdapName, not a new instance. Cannot be null.

    - #### add

          public Name add(int posn,
                          String comp)
                   throws InvalidNameException

      Adds a single component at a specified position within this LDAP name. Components of this LDAP name at or after the index (if any) of the new component are shifted up by one (away from index 0) to accommodate the new component.
      Specified by:
        `add` in interface `Name`
      Parameters:
        `comp` - The non-null component to add.
        `posn` - The index at which to add the new component. Must be in the range [0,size()].
      Returns:
        The updated LdapName, not a new instance. Cannot be null.
      Throws:
        `IndexOutOfBoundsException` - If posn is outside the specified range.
        `InvalidNameException` - If adding comp at the specified position would violate the name's syntax.

    - #### add

          public Name add(int posn,
                          Rdn comp)

      Adds a single RDN at a specified position within this LDAP name. RDNs of this LDAP name at or after the index (if any) of the new RDN are shifted up by one (away from index 0) to accommodate the new RDN.
      Parameters:
        `comp` - The non-null RDN to add.
        `posn` - The index at which to add the new RDN. Must be in the range [0,size()].
      Returns:
        The updated LdapName, not a new instance. Cannot be null.
      Throws:
        `IndexOutOfBoundsException` - If posn is outside the specified range.

    - #### remove

          public Object remove(int posn)
                        throws InvalidNameException

      Removes a component from this LDAP name. The component of this name at the specified position is removed. Components with indexes greater than this position (if any) are shifted down (toward index 0) by one.
      Specified by:
        `remove` in interface `Name`
      Parameters:
        `posn` - The index of the component to remove. Must be in the range [0,size()).
      Returns:
        The component removed (a String).
      Throws:
        `IndexOutOfBoundsException` - if posn is outside the specified range.
        `InvalidNameException` - if deleting the component would violate the syntax rules of the name.

    - #### getRdns

          public List<Rdn> getRdns()

      Retrieves the list of relative distinguished names. The contents of the list are unmodifiable. The indexing of RDNs in the returned list follows the numbering of RDNs as described in the class description. If the name has zero components, an empty list is returned.
      Returns:
        The name as a list of RDNs which are instances of the class `Rdn`.

    - #### clone

          public Object clone()

      Generates a new copy of this name. Subsequent changes to the components of this name will not affect the new copy, and vice versa.
      Specified by:
        `clone` in interface `Name`
      Overrides:
        `clone` in class `Object`
      Returns:
        A copy of the this LDAP name.
      See Also:
        `Cloneable`

    - #### toString

          public String toString()

      Returns a string representation of this LDAP name in a format defined by RFC 2253 and described in the class description. If the name has zero components an empty string is returned.
      Overrides:
        `toString` in class `Object`
      Returns:
        The string representation of the LdapName.

    - #### equals

          public boolean equals(Object obj)

      Determines whether two LDAP names are equal. If obj is null or not an LDAP name, false is returned.

      Two LDAP names are equal if each RDN in one is equal to the corresponding RDN in the other. This implies both have the same number of RDNs, and each RDN's equals() test against the corresponding RDN in the other name returns true. See `Rdn.equals(Object obj)` for a definition of RDN equality.

      Overrides:
        `equals` in class `Object`
      Parameters:
        `obj` - The possibly null object to compare against.
      Returns:
        true if obj is equal to this LDAP name, false otherwise.
      See Also:
        `hashCode()`

    - #### compareTo

          public int compareTo(Object obj)

      Compares this LdapName with the specified Object for order. Returns a negative integer, zero, or a positive integer as this Name is less than, equal to, or greater than the given Object.

      If obj is null or not an instance of LdapName, ClassCastException is thrown.

      Ordering of LDAP names follows the lexicographical rules for string comparison, with the extension that this applies to all the RDNs in the LDAP name. All the RDNs are lined up in their specified order and compared lexicographically. See `Rdn.compareTo(Object obj)` for RDN comparison rules.

      If this LDAP name is lexicographically lesser than obj, a negative number is returned. If this LDAP name is lexicographically greater than obj, a positive number is returned.

      Specified by:
        `compareTo` in interface `Comparable<Object>`
      Specified by:
        `compareTo` in interface `Name`
      Parameters:
        `obj` - The non-null LdapName instance to compare against.
      Returns:
        A negative integer, zero, or a positive integer as this Name is less than, equal to, or greater than the given obj.
      Throws:
        `ClassCastException` - if obj is null or not a LdapName.
      See Also:
        `Comparable.compareTo(Object)`

    - #### hashCode

          public int hashCode()

      Computes the hash code of this LDAP name. The hash code is the sum of the hash codes of individual RDNs of this name.
      Overrides:
        `hashCode` in class `Object`
      Returns:
        An int representing the hash code of this name.
      See Also:
        `equals(java.lang.Object)`

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