C# Using Directive – What Does It Do Exactly?

c++namespacesusing-directives

On MSDN I can read what it does, but I would like to know what it does technically (tells compiler where to look for types..)? I mean using as a directive.

Best Answer

The primary function of the using directive is to make types within a namespace available without qualification to the user code. It considers the set of namespaces and types which are defined in referenced assemblies and the project being compiled.

Take for example the following definition in MyTypes.Dll

namespace MyTypes {
  class Class1 {}
}

Now consider referencing MyTypes.dll from another project with a different namespace. Without a using directive to create Class1 i need to qualify the name

MyTypes.Class1 local1 = new MyTypes.Class1();

The using directive lets me remove this qualification 

using MyTypes;
...
Class1 local1 = new Class1();
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