c++globalunnamed-namespace

How to access the unnamed namespace with scope resolution?


I have this:

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

// Variable created inside namespace
namespace first
{
    int val = 500;
}

namespace
{
    int val = 400;
}

// Global variable
//int val = 100;

int main()
{
    // Local variable
    int val = 200;

    // These variables can be accessed from
    // outside the namespace using the scope
    // operator ::
    cout << first::val << '\n'; 
    cout << ::val << '\n'; 
    cout << val << '\n'; 

    return 0;
}

The ::val in this case will provide val = 400. But if I remove the comment to the global variable then the global namespace will be reached by ::val. So, in that case, how can I access the unnamed namespace?

int val = 400;

This is the output with

// Global variable
int val = 100; //Not commented.
500
100
200

Solution

  • A possible solution is to expand the unnamed namespace with a reference to the "hidden" variable:

    #include <iostream>
    
    
    // Variable created inside namespace
    namespace first
    {
        int val = 500;
    }
    
    namespace
    {
        int val = 400;
    }
    
    // Global variable
    int val = 100;
    
    namespace {
        int& access_to_val=val;
    }
    
    int main()
    {
        using namespace std;
    
        // Local variable
        int val = 200;
    
        // These variables can be accessed from
        // outside the namespace using the scope
        // operator ::
        cout << first::val << '\n'; 
        cout << ::val << '\n'; 
        cout << val << '\n';
        cout << access_to_val << '\n'; 
    
        return 0;
    }
    

    Check the code with Godbolt.

    The output of the program is:

    500
    100
    200
    400
    

    As a side remark: avoid using namespace std in the header.