Namespaces

Objective

  • Discuss namespace, import, and full path specification issues

Namespaces

  • Java has many libraries with many available classes that can be used for common tasks. It would be a real nuisance if all of the names used in the Java libraries were all immediately visible and reserved. The import statement allows us to only access those libraries/namespaces that we wish to use.
  • import java.awt.Graphics; // lets the compiler use the Graphics class from the awt package
  • import java.awt.*; // lets the compiler use all of the classes in the awt package
  • import java.awt.event.*; // Note: These classes are not included by: import java.awt.*;
  • You don't actually have to use any import statements if you are willing to fully qualify the name of your classes: javax.swing.JOptionPane.showInputDialog("Enter your name");