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Resolve classes conflict using global namespace qualifier in C#

In this article, I will discuss global namespace qualifier and how it helps to resolve the conflict in classes with the same name.

Consider the following example

namespace Global_NameSpace_Qualifier {
  class Program {
    static void Main(string[] args) {
      Program.GetMessage();
    }
  }
}

public class Program {
  public static string GetMessage() {
    return "Hello";
  }
}

In the preceding code, we have 2 classes with the same name ‘Program’. One class is in ‘Global_NameSpace_Qualifier’ namespace and other is outside it. But when you call GetMessage() method, it throws an error - 'Global_NameSpace_Qualifier.Program' does not contain a definition for 'GetMessage'

The reason is the class ‘Program’ is outside the namespace.

Global namespace qualifier for rescue

If we prefixed the method with global::, then you can access the ‘Program’ class that is outside the namespace. See the following code

namespace Global_NameSpace_Qualifier {
  class Program {
    static void Main(string[] args) {
      string messge = global::Program.GetMessage();
    }
  }
}
public class Program {
  public static string GetMessage() {
    return "Hello";
  }
}

The preceding code won’t throw any error. So in this way global namespace qualifier helps in resolving conflicts.

Posted By -	Karan Gupta

Posted On -	Friday, June 19, 2015

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