Equals in C# using directive

Question

I've seen this once or twice and don't have the foggiest idea what it's for:

using Point = This.Namespace.Thing.Point

In a couple of examples online I've seen this sort of syntax along with the rest of the usual using directives one is used to seeing. What's this all about?

It's a type or namespace alias. Basically you just create an abbreviation for This.Namespace.Thing.Point called Point. — Dirk, Feb 19 '14 at 15:20
Just have a look at the docs. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/sf0df423.aspx — Konrad Morawski, Feb 19 '14 at 15:20
If you Google this exact question title, you'll find a detailed article about C# aliases. — Pierre-Luc Pineault, Feb 19 '14 at 15:21

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 19 '14 at 15:20

3

it is a shorthand notation or alias for Namespace.

you can use it to avoid typing lengthy namespaces.

using Point = This.Namespace.Thing.Point;

if you write as above then

This.Namespace.Thing.Point.anyClassName

is Equals to

Point.anyClassName

answered Feb 19 '14 at 15:20

Sudhakar Tillapudi

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So what's the purpose of including an alias for a namespace? I guess if you have to different namespaces with the class Point? – wootscootinboogie Feb 19 '14 at 15:22
@wootscootinboogie: you are absolutly right , either you can use it to avoid typing lengthy namespace or to avoid ambiguity between two different namespaces – Sudhakar Tillapudi Feb 19 '14 at 15:26
1

@wootscootinboogie, in my experience, the use of the `using` directive as an alias is for one of three things - either to change the spelling of a type in a namespace you do not control, to use a shorter version of a long class name, or to give a more meaningful name to a generic type (e.g., `NamePair` instead of `Tuple`). – Matt Davis Feb 19 '14 at 15:28

Equals in C# using directive

1 Answers1