The letter ' D ' or ' L ' before the name of any compound indicate the relative configuration of particular stereoisomer. This refers to the relation with particular isomer of glyceraldehyde. Glyceraldehyde contains one asymmetric carbon atom and exists in two enantiomeric forms.
All those compounds which can be chemically correlated to (+) isomer of glyceraldehyde are said to have D-configuration whereas those which can be correlated to (−) isomer of glyceraldehyde are said to have L-configuration.