What is Active Directory?

Active Directory is a directory service developed by Microsoft that is primarily used for user account management, authentication, and authorization within a networked environment. It plays a crucial role in managing and organizing the various elements of a network, such as users, computers, and services.

Active Directory allows administrators to create and manage user accounts, assign permissions, and enforce security policies across an organization. It enables central management of user accounts, making it easier to control access to resources and maintain organizational structure. The service also supports the implementation of Group Policy, which can be used to define security settings and distribute software across multiple computers in a network.

The other choices do not accurately describe what Active Directory is. A communication protocol pertains to the rules that govern data exchanges over a network, which is unrelated to user account management. Software for building websites and mobile application components are entirely different domains and do not involve directory services used for user management. Hence, recognizing Active Directory as a directory service for managing user accounts is essential for understanding its role in network administration.