Namespaces

Names are three-dimensional, consisting of a namespace (the qualifier) and a local name. The :: punctuator is used in qualified identifiers for using a namespace prefix and a local name, as in:

q::n
o.q::n

Namespaces appear as optional access modifiers in annotatable definitions, as in:

special_properties var acc:decimal = 0;

There are reserved namespaces and user namespaces.

Reserved namespaces

Reserved namespaces are created implicitly by the language:

• public
• internal
• protected
• private
• static protected

They are tied to a parent (such as a package, a class or a scope).

A namespace definition that omits the URI creates an internal namespace:

namespace special_properties;

User namespaces

User namespaces are identified by an URI.

namespace observer_internals = "http://observer.net/internals";