How to validate user against active directory in C#

This post covers simple and short code which validates user from active directory in C# using System.DirectoryService.AccountManagement namespace.

Many of applications now days requires the user to be validated through their active directory as client using them might using several other applications and when all applications are validating users through active directory then it’s really helpful for them as it creates a environment of single point of validation without worry of remembering different password for each application.

To validate user through active directory you need to reference the assembly “System.DirectoryServices.AccountManagement" into your application as we are going to use "PrincipalContext" class of this assembly object of which provides a methods to validate users against provided credentials.

Once you referenced the said assembly then following is the code to validate user credentials through active directory.

public bool ValidateUser(string username, string password)
{
    using (var context = new PrincipalContext(ContextType.Domain, "9.8.9.9"))
    {
       return context.ValidateCredentials(username, password); 
    }
}

Above function takes two parameters i.e. username and password and validates it against the active directory at server 9.8.9.9 (this is for example purpose; you need to replace the actual server IP address or name here).

There is another way too to achieve the same functionality by using Membership provider but I found this way more simple.

Hope this simple post has added some information into your knowledge bank. Thanks.