What is the difference between a Class Library and a Namespace

[Joyjeet]

Hello, I am learning the .Net and now I want to know the difference between a Class Library and a Namespace. Can anyone provide me that. It is not possible for me to get that. I have a book but it contains the information which is very difficult to understand. So, please help me to get that.

[MindSpace]

Class Library is one of the major entity of the .NET Framework other than the CLR. By using this library you get the access of the program at the runtime. It consist of different codes which is already written. mscorlib.dll is the major library in the .NET. Namespace is a grouping of similar types in a same assembly.

[Modifier]

I think for getting these concept solved you must make use of the books below:

• Beginning ASP.NET 3.5 in C# 2008: From Novice to Professional, Second Edition by Matthew MacDonald
• ASP.NET 3.5 for Dummies by Ken Cox
• ASP.NET 2.0 Everyday Apps For Dummies by Doug Lowe
• Microsoft ASP.NET 2.0 Step By Step by George Shepherd
• Beginning ASP.NET 2.0 AJAX by Wallace B. McClure, Paul Glavich, Steve C. Orr, Craig Shoemaker, Steven A. Smith, Jim Zimmerman
• Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition For Dummies by Alan Simpson

[Praetor]

Hello, as all know that the main class library present in the .net is mscorlib.dll. This library consist of the different number of core types that encapsulate a wide variety of common tasks. If you are using .NET then you will directly get access of this library. For looking all those libraries present in the .net you must visit to the path of C:\Windows\Assembly OR C:\Winnt\Assembly. Namespace is a grouping of related types contained in an assembly. If you are achieving the similar task in your application then System.Drawing namespace can be used.

[Katty]

Namespace:

• Namespace is the collection of different names wherein each name is Unique.
• It is the logical boundary for the group of classes.
• It is specified in Project-Properties.

Class Library:

• This is the set of different classes.
• It contains predefined codes.
• It is used for getting access of different inbuilt code.

[kelfro]

I think for better reference you must need to get the different books and then you can able to get exact answer. As it is the beginner question you need to get the answer about it from the different .net beginners book. Or you can get this knowledge from the Microsoft online help file MSDN and solve your query.