# Configuring an External Dictionary
The dictionary configuration has the following structure:
```xml
dict_name
```
- name – The identifier that can be used to access the dictionary. Use the characters `[a-zA-Z0-9_\-]`.
- [source](external_dicts_dict_sources.md) — Source of the dictionary.
- [layout](external_dicts_dict_layout.md) — Dictionary layout in memory.
- [structure](external_dicts_dict_structure.md) — Structure of the dictionary . A key and attributes that can be retrieved by this key.
- [lifetime](external_dicts_dict_lifetime.md) — Frequency of dictionary updates.
[Original article](https://clickhouse.yandex/docs/en/query_language/dicts/external_dicts_dict/)