---
type: concept
title: CardDAV
tags: [protocol, synchronization, contacts]
related: [davx5, groupware, caldav, macos, outlook-caldav-synchronizer, mozilla-thunderbird]
created: 2026-07-01
updated: 2026-07-01
sources: ["output/rz_uni_greifswald_de_dienste_webdienste_groupware_sync_android.md", "output/rz_uni_greifswald_de_dienste_webdienste_groupware_sync_ios.md", "output/rz_uni_greifswald_de_dienste_webdienste_groupware_sync_macos.md", "output/rz_uni_greifswald_de_dienste_webdienste_groupware_sync_outlook.md", "output/rz_uni_greifswald_de_dienste_webdienste_groupware_sync_thunderbird.md"]
---

# CardDAV

**CardDAV** (Card Extensions to WebDAV) is the internet standard network protocol based on WebDAV used for synchronizing address books, contact data, contact information, contact cards, and electronic business cards (vCards) between a server and a client application.

## Functionality
CardDAV enables the centralized management of contacts, ensuring that address book updates made on the [[groupware]] server are reflected in the local contact folders of the user's email client.

## Implementation at Universität Greifswald

Within the university infrastructure, CardDAV is utilized by the [[groupware]] platform to allow users to synchronize their address book and contacts with their devices and local email clients, ensuring that contact lists are consistent across the user's environment.

### Connection Details
- **Server Address**: `groupware.uni-greifswald.de`
- **Authentication**: Requires the [[zentraler-nutzeraccount]] credentials.

### Platform-Specific Integration

#### Android
According to the Android synchronization documentation, CardDAV is used to synchronize the [[groupware]] address book and contacts. Because Android lacks native support for the protocol, this synchronization is achieved via third-party clients such as the [[davx5]] application.

#### iOS
According to the iOS synchronization documentation, this is implemented by adding a CardDAV account using the server `groupware.uni-greifswald.de` and the user's [[zentraler-nutzeraccount]] credentials.

#### macOS
CardDAV allows users to synchronize their [[groupware]] contacts with native system applications, such as the Contacts app on [[macos]]. For macOS native synchronization, the following parameters are required:
- **Server**: `groupware.uni-greifswald.de`
- **Configuration**: Manual account setup is required.

#### Mozilla Thunderbird
CardDAV enables the synchronization of the [[groupware]] address book with clients like [[mozilla-thunderbird]].

#### Microsoft Outlook
Integration with [[microsoft-outlook]] requires the [[outlook-caldav-synchronizer]]. 
- The Outlook synchronization documentation states that, similar to CalDAV, CardDAV requires this synchronizer for integration.
- The university infrastructure documentation notes that, similar to calendar synchronization, [[microsoft-outlook]] requires the [[outlook-caldav-synchronizer]] to interact with CardDAV servers.