https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/ad/finding-objects-by-class

 

Finding Objects by Class

• Article
• 08/23/2019
• 2 minutes to read
• 
  

A typical search queries for a specific object class. The following code example searches for computers with location in Building 7N.

C++

(&(objectCategory=computer)(location=Building 7N))

Consider why objectClass is not used. Do not use objectClass without another comparison that contains an indexed attribute. Index attributes can increase the efficiency of a query. The objectClass attribute is multi-valued and not indexed. To specify the type or class of an object, use objectCategory.

Less efficient:

C++

(objectClass=computer)

More Efficient:

C++

(objectCategory=computer)

Be aware that there are some cases where a combination of objectClass and objectCategory must be used. The user class and contact class should be specified as follows.

C++

(&(objectClass=user)(objectCategory=person))
 
(&(objectClass=contact)(objectCategory=person))

Be aware that you could search for both users and contacts with the following.

C++

(objectCategory=person)