Definition

Active Directory tree (AD tree)

An Active Directory tree is a collection of domains within a Microsoft Active Directory network. 

The term refers to the fact that each domain has exactly one parent, leading to a hierarchical tree structure. A group of Active Directory trees is known as a forest. Domains within the Active Directory tree structure have a transitive trust relationship, meaning that if a domain joins a tree, it automatically trusts all other domains in the tree.

Contributor(s): Ben Rubenstein
This was last updated in July 2012
Posted by: Margaret Rouse

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