The directory hierarchy is composed of various naming contexts. Naming contexts can contain one or more containers. Individual naming contexts are replicated separately, and in some cases differently than other naming contexts. There are five naming contexts in a single site-organization (there can be multiple site naming contexts in a multisite environment).
| Naming context | Address |
| Organization | /o=Organization |
| Address Book Views | /o=Organization/ou=A_BViews |
| Site | /o=Organization/ou=Site |
| Configuration | /o=Organization/ou=Site/cn=Configuration |
| Schema | /o=Organization/ou=Site/cn=Microsoft DMD |
For information about how permissions for naming contexts are inherited, see Microsoft Exchange Server Concepts and Planning.