X.500 Naming

Distinguished Name (DN) is sequence of AVAs

cn=Robert L Morgan, ou=Computing & Communications, o=University of Washington, c=US

Based on civil naming authorities, organizations

And on "natural" names

ie, full name as used in non-computing contexts

DN promoted as external reference name

eg, cross-refs among entries, handles for app use (eg X.400);
other attributes used for search, discovery, indexing