LDAP Data Interchange Format
File type: Email related data file
A .ldi file is a plain-text LDAP Data Interchange Format (LDIF) file used to represent directory data, including contacts and address-book entries.
Mozilla Thunderbird can use this format to import and export address-book data.
File type category:
Email related data file
Date updated: October 11, 2026
The LDAP Data Interchange Format is a standard plain-text format for representing content from an LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) directory. An LDIF file stores directory content as a series of records, with one record for each directory object or entry.
LDIF can also represent directory update requests. These records can describe operations such as adding, modifying, deleting, or renaming an entry. In an address book, the entries generally represent contacts and their associated information.
Mozilla Thunderbird, from Mozilla, supports LDIF as an address-book exchange format. Thunderbird is available for Microsoft Windows, Linux/Unix, and Apple macOS.
Import the .ldi file through the address-book import tools in Mozilla Thunderbird. Thunderbird for Microsoft Windows, Linux/Unix, and Apple macOS can use LDIF address-book data.
Because LDIF is plain text, a text editor can display its contents, but Thunderbird is more suitable for viewing the contacts as an address book. Some other email clients may also be able to import the data.
LDIF is an exchange format, so it usually does not need a separate converter. Import the file into the Thunderbird address book and export the contacts in another format supported by Thunderbird.
For directory data, an LDAP client or directory-management tool can also import the LDIF records. The available export formats depend on the application receiving the data.
Software apps that import ldi files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
Linux/Unix
Software apps that export ldi files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
Linux/Unix
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