!!! Overview
[{$pagename}] is a [NamingContext] within [Microsoft Active Directory] [Directory Partition Hierarchy] for used defined [partitions].


[{$pagename}] contain any type of object __except__ for [Security Principal Objects]. 


[{$pagename}] [Replicas] can be on selected [Domain Controllers].


[{$pagename}] are not restricted by [AD DOMAIN] boundaries, as is the case with [Domain Directory Partitions], they can exist on any domain controller running [Windows Server 2003] or later in an [AD Forest] regardless of the [AD DOMAIN] the [Domain Controller] is a member.

[{$pagename}] [replicas] can be [replicated] to any set of [Domain Controllers] in a [AD Forest], irrespective of [AD DOMAIN]. 
[{$pagename}] is created by [Applications] to store their [data]. It is different from any other [partitions] in that the [application] can choose which [Domain Controller] or Controllers to store the [data] on. The advantage for the application storing the data this way is that the [application] has access to the same replicate and fault tolerance used by the [Domain Controllers]. 

An [example] of an Application is [DNS Integrated Active Directory Zones]. When this zone type is used, the [data] is stored in an [{$pagename}]. Replicates with any specified DC in which app has created the separate partition. E.g. AD integrated DNS will have an Application directory partition in AD. Similarly, [Exchange 2010]  

!! More Information
There might be more information for this subject on one of the following:
[{ReferringPagesPlugin before='*' after='\n' }]
----
* [#1] - [About Application Directory Partitions|https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/desktop/ad/about-application-directory-partitions|target='_blank'] - based on information obtained 2018-09-15