What is difference between Azure AD Connect Connector and Connector Space

 Azure AD Connect is a Microsoft tool used to synchronize on-premises Active Directory (AD) with Azure Active Directory (Azure AD), enabling a unified identity and access management experience for users across on-premises and cloud environments. Within Azure AD Connect, there are two key concepts: connectors and connector spaces. Let's explore the differences between them:

1. **Azure AD Connect Connector**:

   - The Azure AD Connect Connector is a component responsible for connecting to a specific data source, such as an on-premises Active Directory Forest.

   - It manages the flow of data between the on-premises directory (e.g., Active Directory) and Azure AD.

   - Azure AD Connect supports multiple types of connectors, including the Active Directory Connector, the Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (AD LDS) Connector, and the Azure AD Connector for managing Azure AD objects.

   - Each connector is configured with specific connection settings, filtering rules, and synchronization options to control how data is synchronized between the on-premises environment and Azure AD.

2. **Connector Space**:

   - The Connector Space is a logical container within Azure AD Connect that stores objects imported from the connected data sources (e.g., on-premises Active Directory).

   - It serves as an intermediate staging area where objects are temporarily stored before they are synchronized to Azure AD or other connected directories.

   - The Connector Space maintains a representation of objects from the connected data sources, including their attributes and metadata.

   - Operations such as provisioning, deprovisioning, and synchronization are performed within the Connector Space before changes are applied to Azure AD or other target systems.

**Key Differences**:

- **Functionality**: The Azure AD Connect Connector is responsible for establishing the connection to the data source and managing the synchronization process, while the Connector Space is a logical storage container that holds imported objects from the connected data sources.

- **Scope**: Connectors are specific to individual data sources (e.g., Active Directory forests), whereas the Connector Space represents a consolidated view of objects from all connected data sources.

- **Data Storage**: Connectors facilitate the transfer of data between the on-premises environment and Azure AD, while the Connector Space serves as a temporary storage area for objects during synchronization operations.

In summary, the Azure AD Connect Connector establishes connections to data sources and manages synchronization, while the Connector Space serves as a staging area for imported objects before they are synchronized with Azure AD. Together, they form integral parts of the Azure AD Connect synchronization process, enabling seamless identity management between on-premises and cloud environments.