Oracle Internet Directory uses the concept of identity management realms to organize information in the directory information tree (DIT), which is a hierarchical tree-like structure consisting of directory object entries. In a directory, each collection of information about an object is called an entry. This object may be a person, but it can also be information about a networked device, such as configuration information. To name and identify the location of directory objects in the DIT, each entry is assigned a unique distinguished name (DN). The DN of an entry consists of the entry itself and its parent entries, connected in ascending order, from the entry itself up to the root (top) entry in the DIT.