diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 13b24f78bf84b83994dc016cdd0f83e718be95b7..cb431f67aeb2436bdd046e1cf54d8947681c2f12 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -5,8 +5,7 @@ A PHP class that I use
 * for authentication of user logins
 * CRUD actions on ldap nodes
 
-Institute for Medical Education; University of Bern
-
-License: GNU GPL 3
-
-see [docs](docs/)
\ No newline at end of file
+👤 Author: Axel Hahn; Institute for Medical Education; University of Bern
+📄 Source: https://git-repo.iml.unibe.ch/iml-open-source/ldap-php-class
+📜 License: GNU GPL 3.0
+📗 Docs: https://os-docs.iml.unibe.ch/ldap-php-class/
diff --git a/docs/20_Usage.md b/docs/20_Usage.md
index 595e75933ccab564e3067ad5ce21e4d25a0c3161..6f6c14f70aa820fb7bc5a65d0c0576592ae12a80 100644
--- a/docs/20_Usage.md
+++ b/docs/20_Usage.md
@@ -11,12 +11,11 @@ require_once '[APPROOT]/classes/ldap.class.php';
 As an example I create a hash named $aConfig and save it as "inc_config.php".
 
 ```php
-$aConfig=[
+return [
       ...
 
        'ldap' => [
            'server'     => 'ldaps://ldap.example.com',
-           'port'       => 636,
            'DnLdapUser' => 'cn=Lookup,ou=Service,dc=some,dc=example.com',
            'PwLdapUser' => 'PasswordOfLookupUser',
 
@@ -32,16 +31,69 @@ $aConfig=[
 ];
 ```
 
-## Example: verify login data
+## initialize connection
 
 ```php
-require_once('inc_config.php');
+$aConfig = require_once('inc_config.php');
 require_once '[APPROOT]/classes/ldap.class.php';
 
-oLdap=new imlldap($aConfig['ldap']);
+$oLdap=new imlldap($aConfig['ldap']);
+```
+
+## Methods
+
+### Object handling
+
+* objAdd(string $sDn, array $aItem): bool
+* objGet(string $sDn, string $sSearchFilter = '(objectclass=*)', array $aAttributesToGet = ["*"]): bool|array
+* objUpdate(string $sDn, array $aItem): bool
+* objDelete(string $sDn): bool
+
+### Attributes
+
+* objAddAttr(string $sDn, array $aItem): bool
+* objDeleteAttr(string $sDn, array $aItem): bool
+* objectAttributeExists(string $sDn, string $sAttribute): bool
+* objectAttributeAndValueExist(string $sDn, string $sAttribute, string $sAttrValue): bool - check only
+* objectAttributeAndValueMustExist(string $sDn, string $sAttribute, string $sAttrValue): bool - force the existence of attribute and value
+
+### User functions
+
+* userAdd(array $aItem, string $sDn = "")
+* getUserInfo(string $sUser, array $aAttributesToGet = ["*"]): bool|array
+* userDelete(string $sUserDn)
+* userUpdate(array $aItem)
+* setPassword(string $sUser, string $sPW): bool
+* verifyPassword(string $sUser, string $sPW): bool
+
+### Debugging
+
+Turn debugging on or off
 
-// set values from $_FORM or $_POST data of your login form here
-// The variable $bAuthenticated is true if authentication of the user was successful.
-$bAuthenticated=oLdap->verifyPassword($sUser, $sPassword);
+* debugOff()
+* debugOn()
 
+## Examples
+
+### read user attributes
+
+Use the username or an email address to get user data. The 2nd parameter defines the attributes to fetch (`["*"]` is default).
+
+```php
+$aUser = $oLdap->getUserInfo("john@example.com", []);
+$aUser = $oLdap->getUserInfo("john@example.com", ["memberof", "uid"]);        
+
+// simplify result array:
+print_r($oLdap->normalizeSearchentry($aUser));
+```
+
+### Example: search
+
+When using special chars in search then you can sanitize the search string.
+
+```php
+$sCn = 'John Smith (john)';
+$sSearchFilter = '(cn='.$oLdap->sanitizeFilter($sCn).')';
+$aResults = $oLdap->searchDn("<DN here>", $sSearchFilter, ["*"]);
+$oLdap->close();
 ```
diff --git a/docs/30_Methods.md b/docs/30_Methods.md
index 8fd210c8a505867f4d0ab2dbcca910dbddb347fa..86962bdc4e3e9a69283624b89a521e901e85bea3 100644
--- a/docs/30_Methods.md
+++ b/docs/30_Methods.md
@@ -5,19 +5,28 @@
 ---
 ## `class imlldap`
 
-IML LDAP CONNECTOR *<pre> 2022-02-22  ah  added objGet(), sanitizeFilter() <br> 2022-08-18  ah  mask password (showing 4 chars only) <br> 2022-08-22  ah  mhash is deprecated <br> 2022-08-26  ah  fix verifyPassword <br> </pre>
+IML LDAP CONNECTOR
+
+2022-02-22  ah  added objGet(), sanitizeFilter() 2022-08-18  ah  mask password (showing 4 chars only) 2022-08-22  ah  mhash is deprecated 2022-08-26  ah  fix verifyPassword 2024-07-11  ah  php8 only: use variable types
 
 ---
-## `private $_aLdap = array( 'server' => false, 'port' => false, 'DnLdapUser' => false, // ldap rdn oder dn 'PwLdapUser' => false, 'DnUserNode' => false, // ou=People... 'DnAppNode' => false, // cn=AppGroup... 'protoVersion' => 3, 'debugLevel' => 0, )`
+## `private array $_aLdap = [ 'server' => false, 'port' => false, 'DnLdapUser' => false, // ldap rdn oder dn 'PwLdapUser' => false, 'DnUserNode' => false, // ou=People... 'DnAppNode' => false, // cn=AppGroup... 'protoVersion' => 3, 'debugLevel' => 0, ]`
 
 ---
-## `private $_ldapConn = false`
+## `private object|bool $_ldapConn = false`
 
 ---
-## `private $_ldapBind = false`
+## `private object|bool $_ldapBind = false`
+
+ldap bind object - bind was done?
 
 ---
-## `public function __construct($aConfig = array())`
+## `var bool $bDebug = false`
+
+Flag if debug mode is on
+
+---
+## `public function __construct(array $aConfig = [])`
 
 constructor
 **Parameters:**
@@ -27,17 +36,17 @@ Var | Type | Desciption
 $aConfig | array | optional set ldap connection
 
 ---
-## `public function debugOn()`
+## `public function debugOn(): void`
 
 turn debug messages on; if this detail level is not enough, set a value with key debugLevel in ldap config array
 
 ---
-## `public function debugOff()`
+## `public function debugOff(): void`
 
 turn debug messages off
 
 ---
-## `private function _w($sText)`
+## `private function _w(string $sText): bool`
 
 write debug message if denugOn() was fired.
 
@@ -52,7 +61,7 @@ $sText | string | message text
   boolean
 
 ---
-## `private function _wLdaperror($sText = '')`
+## `private function _wLdaperror(string $sText = ''): bool`
 
 write last ldap error as debug
 
@@ -67,7 +76,7 @@ $sText | string | message text
   boolean
 
 ---
-## `public function setConfig($aConfig = array())`
+## `public function setConfig(array $aConfig = []): void`
 
 set a ldap config
 
@@ -87,17 +96,17 @@ Var | Type | Desciption
 $aConfig | array | new config items
 
 ---
-## `public function close()`
+## `public function close(): void`
 
 close an existing ldap connection
 
 ---
-## `public function connect()`
+## `public function connect(): void`
 
 connect to ldap
 
 ---
-## `public function bind($sUser = '', $sPw = '')`
+## `public function bind(string $sUser = '', string $sPw = ''): bool`
 
 ldap bind connects with a ldap user. If the ldap connection was not opened yet the connection will be established. If a binding exists it will be unbind
 
@@ -109,12 +118,12 @@ $sUser | string | optional: username (overrides _aLdap['DnLdapUser'])
 $sPw | string | optional: password (overrides _aLdap['PwLdapUser'])
 
 ---
-## `public function unbind()`
+## `public function unbind(): void`
 
 ldap unbind ... if a bind exists
 
 ---
-## `public function DnExists($sDn)`
+## `public function DnExists(string $sDn): bool`
 
 check if a DN already exists; return is true/ false
 **Parameters:**
@@ -128,37 +137,22 @@ $sDn | string | DN to check
   boolean
 
 ---
-## `public function normalizeSearchentry($aRecord)`
+## `public function normalizeSearchentry(array $aRecord): bool|array`
 
-get simpler array from ldap_get_entries after ldap_search
+get simpler array from ldap_get_entries after ldap_search If the given array doesn't contain the key "dn" it returns "false"
 
 **Parameters:**
 
 Var | Type | Desciption
 --  |--    |--
-$aRecord | array | singel result item
+$aRecord | array | single result item
 
 **Return:**
 
   array
 
 ---
-## `public function normalizeSearchresult($aLdapSearchresult)`
-
-get simpler array from ldap_get_entries after ldap_search
-
-**Parameters:**
-
-Var | Type | Desciption
---  |--    |--
-$aRecord | array | singel result item
-
-**Return:**
-
-  array
-
----
-## `static public function sanitizeFilter($s)`
+## `static public function sanitizeFilter(string $s): string`
 
 sanitize value to put into a search filter WARNING: the implementation is incomplete! I replaces the first N ascii chars only
 
@@ -176,9 +170,9 @@ $s | string | value to sanitize
   string
 
 ---
-## `public function searchDn($sDn, $sSearchFilter='(objectclass=*)', $aAttributesToGet = array("*"), $bRecursive=true)`
+## `public function searchDn(string $sDn, string $sSearchFilter = '(objectclass=*)', array $aAttributesToGet = ["*"], bool $bRecursive = true): bool|array`
 
-search in ldap directory and get result as array
+search in ldap directory and get result as array. It returns "false" on error: - no ldap connection - search failed
 
 **Parameters:**
 
@@ -191,10 +185,10 @@ $bRecursive | boolean | recusrive (uses ldap_search) or not (ldap_list)
 
 **Return:**
 
-  array
+  boolean|array
 
 ---
-## `public function searchUser($sSearchFilter='', $aAttributesToGet = array("*"), $bRecursive=true)`
+## `public function searchUser(string $sSearchFilter = '', array $aAttributesToGet = ["*"], bool $bRecursive = true): bool|array`
 
 search for entries in in ldap user node and get result as array
 
@@ -208,10 +202,10 @@ $bRecursive | bool | flag: recursive search? default: true (=yes, recursive)
 
 **Return:**
 
-  array
+  boolean|array
 
 ---
-## `public function getUserInfo($sUser, $aAttributesToGet = array("*"))`
+## `public function getUserInfo(string $sUser, array $aAttributesToGet = ["*"]): bool|array`
 
 search user by a given username or email address. It returns false if the user does not exist or is not member of the group 'DnAppNode' (if it was set).
 
@@ -219,15 +213,15 @@ search user by a given username or email address. It returns false if the user d
 
 Var | Type | Desciption
 --  |--    |--
-$sUser | type | user id (uid) or email (mail) to search
-$aAttributesToGet | type | i.e. array("ou", "sn", "vorname", "mail", "uid", "memberOf")
+$sUser | string | user id (uid) or email (mail) to search
+$aAttributesToGet | array | i.e. ["ou", "sn", "vorname", "mail", "uid", "memberOf"]
 
 **Return:**
 
   boolean|array
 
 ---
-## `public function getUserDn($sUser)`
+## `public function getUserDn(string $sUser): bool|string`
 
 search for a DN entry with the lookup user by a given username or email address. It returns false if the user does not exist or is not member of the group 'DnAppNode' (if it was set).
 
@@ -235,14 +229,14 @@ search for a DN entry with the lookup user by a given username or email address.
 
 Var | Type | Desciption
 --  |--    |--
-$sUser | type | %s
+$sUser | string | %s
 
 **Return:**
 
   string
 
 ---
-## `public function setPassword($sUser, $sPW)`
+## `public function setPassword(string $sUser, string $sPW): bool`
 
 set a password for a given user; this requires a ldap bind with master/ admin account
 
@@ -258,7 +252,7 @@ $sPW | string | password
   boolean
 
 ---
-## `private function _getNTLMHash($Input)`
+## `private function _getNTLMHash(string $Input): string`
 
 get NTLM hash from a string taken from https://secure.php.net/manual/en/ref.hash.php
 
@@ -273,7 +267,7 @@ $Input | string | %s
   string
 
 ---
-## `public function setPasswordSamba($sUser, $sPW)`
+## `public function setPasswordSamba(string $sUser, string $sPW): bool`
 
 set a password for a given user for Samba this requires a ldap bind with master/ admin account see https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc223248.aspx see http://php.net/ldap-modify-batch  - last examle see https://secure.php.net/manual/en/ref.hash.php
 
@@ -289,23 +283,23 @@ $sPW | string | password
   boolean
 
 ---
-## `public function objAdd($sDn, $aItem)`
+## `public function objAdd(string $sDn, array $aItem): bool`
 
-update an ldap object this requires a ldap bind with master/ admin account
+update an ldap object this requires a ldap bind with master/ admin account It returns true if the action was successful
 
 **Parameters:**
 
 Var | Type | Desciption
 --  |--    |--
 $sDn | string | dn to update
-$aItem | string | array of new ldap properties
+$aItem | array | array of new ldap properties
 
 **Return:**
 
   boolean
 
 ---
-## `public function objAddAttr($sDn, $aItem)`
+## `public function objAddAttr(string $sDn, array $aItem): bool`
 
 update an ldap attribute this requires a ldap bind with master/ admin account
 
@@ -314,16 +308,16 @@ update an ldap attribute this requires a ldap bind with master/ admin account
 Var | Type | Desciption
 --  |--    |--
 $sDn | string | dn to update
-$aItem | string | array of new ldap properties
+$aItem | array | array of new ldap properties
 
 **Return:**
 
   boolean
 
 ---
-## `public function objGet($sDn, $sSearchFilter='(objectclass=*)', $aAttributesToGet = array("*"))`
+## `public function objGet(string $sDn, string $sSearchFilter = '(objectclass=*)', array $aAttributesToGet = ["*"]): bool|array`
 
-read attributes from ldap node with given DN (using ldap_read)
+read attributes from ldap node with given DN (using ldap_read) It returns "false" if the action was not successful - no ldap connection - DN or filter didn't match
 
 **Parameters:**
 
@@ -335,12 +329,12 @@ $aAttributesToGet | array | flat array of attributes to fetch
 
 **Return:**
 
-  array
+  boolean|array
 
 ---
-## `public function objUpdate($sDn, $aItem)`
+## `public function objUpdate(string $sDn, array $aItem): bool`
 
-update an ldap object with given key-value array if the attribute (key) does not exist it will be created. this requires a ldap bind with master/ admin account
+update an ldap object with given key-value array if the attribute (key) does not exist it will be created. this requires a ldap bind with master/ admin account It returns "false" if the action failed
 
 **Parameters:**
 
@@ -354,9 +348,9 @@ $aItem | array | updated entry
   boolean
 
 ---
-## `public function objDelete($sDn)`
+## `public function objDelete(string $sDn): bool`
 
-delete an ldap object this requires a ldap bind with master/ admin account
+delete an ldap object this requires a ldap bind with master/ admin account It returns "false" if the action failed
 
 **Parameters:**
 
@@ -369,25 +363,24 @@ $sDn | string | full DN to remove
   boolean
 
 ---
-## `public function objDeleteAttr($sDn, $aItem)`
-
-delete attributes of an ldap object this requires a ldap bind with master/ admin account
+## `public function objDeleteAttr(string $sDn, array $aItem): bool`
 
-TODO: Test me
+delete attributes of an ldap object this requires a ldap bind with master/ admin account It returns "false" if the action failed
 
+remove attribute "userPassword" of user $sUserDn: <code>$oLdap->objDeleteAttr($sUserDn, ['userPassword'=>[]]</code>
 **Parameters:**
 
 Var | Type | Desciption
 --  |--    |--
 $sDn | string | DN
-$aItem | string | item to remove
+$aItem | array | item to remove
 
 **Return:**
 
   boolean
 
 ---
-## `public function objectAttributeExists($sDn, $sAttribute)`
+## `public function objectAttributeExists(string $sDn, string $sAttribute): bool`
 
 check if an attribute exists in a DN
 
@@ -404,7 +397,7 @@ $sAttrValue | string | value to check
   boolean
 
 ---
-## `public function objectAttributeAndValueExist($sDn, $sAttribute, $sAttrValue)`
+## `public function objectAttributeAndValueExist(string $sDn, string $sAttribute, string $sAttrValue): bool`
 
 check if an attribute and value exist in a DN
 
@@ -421,7 +414,7 @@ $sAttrValue | string | value to check
   boolean
 
 ---
-## `public function objectAttributeAndValueMustExist($sDn, $sAttribute, $sAttrValue)`
+## `public function objectAttributeAndValueMustExist(string $sDn, string $sAttribute, string $sAttrValue): bool`
 
 check an attribute and value; it will be created if it does not exist this requires a ldap bind with master/ admin account
 
@@ -438,7 +431,7 @@ $sAttrValue | string | value to check
   boolean
 
 ---
-## `public function userAdd($aItem, $sDn = false)`
+## `public function userAdd(array $aItem, string $sDn = ""): bool`
 
 create a new user item this requires a ldap bind with master/ admin account
 
@@ -454,7 +447,7 @@ $sDn | string | optional DN where to create the user
   boolean
 
 ---
-## `public function userDelete($sUserDn)`
+## `public function userDelete(string $sUserDn): bool`
 
 delete a user this requires a ldap bind with master/ admin account
 
@@ -470,7 +463,7 @@ $sPW | string | new password to set
   boolean
 
 ---
-## `public function userUpdate($aItem)`
+## `public function userUpdate(array $aItem): bool`
 
 update an ldap object this requires a ldap bind with master/ admin account
 
@@ -485,7 +478,7 @@ $aItem | array | new user data to update
   boolean
 
 ---
-## `public function verifyPassword($sUser, $sPW)`
+## `public function verifyPassword(string $sUser, string $sPW): bool`
 
 verify user and password
 **Parameters:**
diff --git a/docs/_index.md b/docs/_index.md
index 074f0b26c1b2f2ed37a9648729d13c0cac2d8d16..2f382b7453ad16188037524529a4197f82838d93 100644
--- a/docs/_index.md
+++ b/docs/_index.md
@@ -5,12 +5,13 @@ A PHP class that I use
 * for authentication of user logins
 * CRUD actions on ldap nodes
 
-Institute for Medical Education; University of Bern
-
-License: GNU GPL 3
+👤 Author: Axel Hahn; Institute for Medical Education; University of Bern
+📄 Source: https://git-repo.iml.unibe.ch/iml-open-source/ldap-php-class
+📜 License: GNU GPL 3.0
+📗 Docs: https://os-docs.iml.unibe.ch/ldap-php-class/
 
 ## Requirements
 
-* PHP 7+
+* PHP 8
 * Php Ldap module
-* OpenLdap server to connect
+* OpenLdap server / Active Directory to connect