python-ldap
Python modules for implementing LDAP clients
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need LDAP directory integration and can meet the system dependency requirements. The package is stable, actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, and is widely used in enterprise Python applications. The main barrier is high install friction—you must have OpenLDAP development libraries available on your system. If you're working with corporate LDAP servers, this is the standard choice; if you don't need LDAP, the system dependency overhead makes it not worth installing.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires OpenLDAP client libraries and development headers installed on the system; not a pure-Python package.
- High install friction due to compiled C extension wrapping OpenLDAP libraries; requires system-level LDAP development headers.
- Maintenance is active with recent releases and no known vulnerabilities.
License · maintenance · safety
python-ldap (permissive) — Licensed under a permissive Python-style license; contributions since July 2021 are under MIT. License text preservation is required but imposes minimal restrictions on use or distribution.
last release 2026-05-20 (86 days) · last repo commit 2026-07-09 · 441 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 4,423,726 downloads/mo, #2,307 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
import ldap
l = ldap.initialize("ldap://my_ldap_server.my_domain")
l.simple_bind_s("", "")
l.search_s("o=My Organisation, c=AU", ldap.SCOPE_SUBTREE, "objectclass=*")- Whether the package's C extension compiles cleanly on all supported platforms.
- Performance characteristics and scalability limits for large directory queries.
- Current state of SASL support and any known limitations with modern LDAP servers.
What it is and what it does
python-ldap is a wrapper around OpenLDAP client libraries that exposes LDAP directory operations through Python objects. It lets you connect to LDAP servers, authenticate users, search directory entries, and process LDAP-related data formats like LDIF and schema definitions. The package is built on compiled C extensions, so it depends on system-level OpenLDAP libraries being present.
The library is used primarily for authentication and directory lookups in enterprise environments. It handles the low-level protocol details and connection management, letting you focus on directory queries and user management logic. Runtime dependencies are pyasn1 and pyasn1_modules for ASN.1 encoding, but the installation itself requires C compilation and OpenLDAP headers.
Use it for
- Authenticate users against an LDAP server in a web application or service.
- Search and retrieve user or group information from a directory for provisioning workflows.
- Process LDIF files for directory data import or export.
- Validate LDAP schema and parse LDAPv3 controls and extended operations.
- Build directory-aware applications that need to query organizational structure or user attributes.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need LDAP directory integration and can meet the system dependency requirements.
The package is stable, actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, and is widely used in enterprise Python applications. The main barrier is high install friction—you must have OpenLDAP development libraries available on your system. If you're working with corporate LDAP servers, this is the standard choice; if you don't need LDAP, the system dependency overhead makes it not worth installing.
Install
python-ldap on PyPI
Before you install
High install friction due to compiled C extension wrapping OpenLDAP libraries; requires system-level LDAP development headers. Maintenance is active with recent releases and no known vulnerabilities.
Requires OpenLDAP client libraries and development headers installed on the system; not a pure-Python package.
License in practice
Licensed under a permissive Python-style license; contributions since July 2021 are under MIT. License text preservation is required but imposes minimal restrictions on use or distribution.
Quickstart
import ldap
l = ldap.initialize("ldap://my_ldap_server.my_domain")
l.simple_bind_s("", "")
l.search_s("o=My Organisation, c=AU", ldap.SCOPE_SUBTREE, "objectclass=*")Verify before relying
- Whether the package's C extension compiles cleanly on all supported platforms.
- Performance characteristics and scalability limits for large directory queries.
- Current state of SASL support and any known limitations with modern LDAP servers.
Package facts
| License | python-ldap permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.6 |
| Install friction | High. Source build required |
| Runtime dependencies | 2 packagespyasn1pyasn1_modules |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 86 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 4,423,726 / month, #2,307 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableIntended Audience :: DevelopersIntended Audience :: System AdministratorsLicense :: OSI Approved :: Python Software Foundation LicenseOperating System :: MacOS :: MacOS XOperating System :: Microsoft :: WindowsOperating System :: OS IndependentOperating System :: POSIXProgramming Language :: CProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.6Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9Topic :: DatabaseTopic :: InternetTopic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python ModulesTopic :: System :: Systems Administration :: Authentication/Directory :: LDAP |
Evidence: python_ldap-3.4.7.tar.gz
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See also django-auth-ldap · ldaptor · python3-ldap · msldap · ldap3 · python-active-directory · ldapdomaindump · ZODB · pyobjc-framework-OpenDirectory · requests-oauth