Difference between Namespaces and Packages.

Question

Is there any difference between namespaces and packages or it's just two similar terms used at different platforms?

Vulpes · Answer

They're broadly similar concepts though packages in Java are a bit more versatile than namespaces in C# or the .NET languages: 1. You can restrict the access of classes (or class members) to classes within the same package. 2. When importing a package you can import a single class rather than all classes in the package. You can't do either of these things with namespaces in C++ or C# though C# does have a 'namespace alias' feature which allows you to import a single class from a namespace as long as you give it an alias. For example: using VBI = Microsoft.VisualBasic.Interaction; VB.NET supports #2 but not #1.