Prioritization of search requests using search templates

A method, a computer system, and a computer program product that prioritizes search requests to a database directory by assigning the search requests to one or more templates. Attributes of the search requests, such as an IP address, the portion of the database to which the search is constrained, one or more return attributes, the scope of the search, and/or search filters used, are compared with values of those attributes of the templates. The template whose values of the attributes match the values of the attributes in the search request is selected. This template has a template identifier that is associated with a transaction name of a work unit enclave. The search request is then associated with the work unit enclave and the operating system of the computer system will execute the search request in accordance with the performance goals and priority of the service class into which the work unit enclave is assigned. Process steps include creating a search template if none exist, and configuring a database server to assign a transaction name to search requests based on attributes and their values of the search request and then associating that transaction name with a transaction name of the work unit enclave.