C++ Namespaces What are namespaces?
Example
A C++ namespace is a collection of C++ entities (functions, classes, variables), whose names are prefixed by the name of the namespace. When writing code within a namespace, named entities belonging to that namespace need not be prefixed with the namespace name, but entities outside of it must use the fully qualified name. The fully qualified name has the format <namespace>::<entity>. Example:
namespace Example
{
const int test = 5;
const int test2 = test + 12; //Works within `Example` namespace
}
const int test3 = test + 3; //Fails; `test` not found outside of namespace.
const int test3 = Example::test + 3; //Works; fully qualified name used.
Namespaces are useful for grouping related definitions together. Take the analogy of a shopping mall. Generally a shopping mall is split up into several stores, each store selling items from a specific category. One store might sell electronics, while another store might sell shoes. These logical separations in store types help the shoppers find the items they're looking for. Namespaces help c++ programmers, like shoppers, find the functions, classes, and variables they're looking for by organizing them in a logical manner. Example:
namespace Electronics
{
int TotalStock;
class Headphones
{
// Description of a Headphone (color, brand, model number, etc.)
};
class Television
{
// Description of a Television (color, brand, model number, etc.)
};
}
namespace Shoes
{
int TotalStock;
class Sandal
{
// Description of a Sandal (color, brand, model number, etc.)
};
class Slipper
{
// Description of a Slipper (color, brand, model number, etc.)
};
}
There is a single namespace predefined, which is the global namespace that has no name, but can be denoted by ::. Example:
void bar() {
// defined in global namespace
}
namespace foo {
void bar() {
// defined in namespace foo
}
void barbar() {
bar(); // calls foo::bar()
::bar(); // calls bar() defined in global namespace
}
}
