"using namespace" in c++ headers

Question

In all our c++ courses, all the teachers always put using namespace std; right after the #includes in their .h files. This seems to me to be dangerous since then by including that header in another program I will get the namespace imported into my program, maybe without realizing, intending or wanting it (header inclusion can be very deeply nested).

So my question is double: Am I right that using namespace should not be used in header files, and/or is there some way to undo it, something like:

//header.h
using namespace std {
.
.
.
}

One more question along the same lines: Should a header file #include all the headers that it's corresponding .cpp file needs, only those that are needed for the header definitions and let the .cpp file #include the rest, or none and declare everything it needs as extern?
The reasoning behind the question is the same as above: I don't want surprises when including .h files.

Also, if I am right, is this a common mistake? I mean in real-world programming and in "real" projects out there.

Thank you.

Answer 1

You should definitely NOT use using namespace in headers for precisely the reason you say, that it can unexpectedly change the meaning of code in any other files that include that header. There's no way to undo a using namespace which is another reason it's so dangerous. I typically just use grep or the like to make sure that using namespace isn't being called out in headers rather than trying anything more complicated. Probably static code checkers flag this too.

The header should include just the headers that it needs to compile. An easy way to enforce this is to always include each source file's own header as the first thing, before any other headers. Then the source file will fail to compile if the header isn't self-contained. In some cases, for example referring to implementation-detail classes within a library, you can use forward declarations instead of #include because you have full control over the definition of such forward declared class.

I'm not sure I would call it common, but it definitely shows up once in a while, usually written by new programmers that aren't aware of the negative consequences. Typically just a little education about the risks takes care of any issues since it's relatively simple to fix.

Answer 2

Item 59 in Sutter and Alexandrescu's "C++ Coding Standards: 101 Rules, Guidelines, and Best Practices":

59. Don’t write namespace usings in a header file or before an #include.

Namespace usings are for your convenience, not for you to inflict on others: Never write a using declaration or a using directive before an #include directive.

Corollary: In header files, don't write namespace-level using directives or using declarations; instead, explicitly namespace-qualify all names.

A header file is a guest in one or more source files. A header file that includes using directives and declarations brings its rowdy buddies over too.

A using declaration brings in one buddy. A using directive brings in all the buddies in the namespace. Your teachers' use of using namespace std; is a using directive.

More seriously, we have namespaces to avoid name clash. A header file is intended to provide an interface. Most headers are agnostic of what code may include them, now or in the future. Adding using statements for internal convenience within the header foists those convenient names on all the potential clients of that header. That can lead to name clash. And it's just plain rude.

Answer 3

You need to be careful when including headers inside of headers. In large projects, it can create a very tangled dependency chain that triggers larger/longer rebuilds than were actually necessary. Check out this article and its follow-up to learn more about the importance of good physical structure in C++ projects.

You should only include headers inside a header when absolutely needed (whenever the full definition of a class is needed), and use forward declaration wherever you can (when the class is required is a pointer or a reference).

As for namespaces, I tend to use the explicit namespace scoping in my header files, and only put a using namespace in my cpp files.

Answer 4

With regards to "Is there some way to undo [a using declaration]?"

I think it is useful to point out that using declarations are affected by scope.

#include <vector>

{   // begin a new scope with {
    using namespace std;
    vector myVector;  // std::vector is used
}   // end the scope with }

vector myOtherVector;   // error vector undefined
std::vector mySTDVector // no error std::vector is fully qualified

So effectively yes. By limiting the scope of the using declaration its effect only lasts within that scope; it is 'undone' when that scope ends.

When the using declaration is declared in a file outside of any other scope it has file-scope and affects everything in that file.

In the case of a header file, if the using declaration is at file-scope this will extend to the scope of any file the header is included in.

Answer 5

Check out the Goddard Space Flight Center coding standards (for C and C++). That turns out to be a bit harder than it used to be - see the updated answers to the SO questions:

• Should I use #include in headers
• Self-sufficient headers in C and C++

The GSFC C++ coding standard says:

§3.3.7 Each header file shall #include the files it needs to compile, rather than forcing users to #include the needed files. #includes shall be limited to what the header needs; other #includes should be placed in the source file.

The first of the cross-referenced questions now includes a quote from the GSFC C coding standard, and the rationale, but the substance ends up being the same.

Answer 6

You are right that using namespace in header is dangerous. I do not know a way how to undo it. It is easy to detect it however just search for using namespace in header files. For that last reason it is uncommon in real projects. More experienced coworkers will soon complain if someone does something like it.

In real projects people try to minimize the amount of included files, because the less you include the quicker it compiles. That saves time of everybody. However if the header file assumes that something should be included before it then it should include it itself. Otherwise it makes headers not self-contained.

Answer 7

I believe you can use 'using' in C++ headers safely if you write your declarations in a nested namespace like this:

namespace DECLARATIONS_WITH_NAMESPACES_USED_INCLUDED
{
    /*using statements*/

    namespace DECLARATIONS_WITH_NO_NAMESPACES_USED_INCLUDED
    {
        /*declarations*/
    }
}

using namespace DECLARATIONS_WITH_NAMESPACES_USED_INCLUDED::DECLARATIONS_WITH_NO_NAMESPACES_USED_INCLUDED;

This should include only the things declared in 'DECLARATIONS_WITH_NO_NAMESPACES_USED_INCLUDED' without the namespaces used. I have tested it on mingw64 compiler.

Answer 8

You are right. And any file should only include the headers needed by that file. As for "is doing things wrong common in real world projects?" - oh, yes!

Answer 9

Like all things in programming, pragmatism should win over dogmatism, IMO.

So long as you make the decision project-wide ("Our project uses STL extensively, and we don't want to have to prepend everything with std::."), I don't see the problem with it. The only thing you're risking is name collisions, after all, and with the ubiquity of STL it's unlikely to be a problem.

On the other hand, if it was a decision by one developer in a single (non-private) header-file, I can see how it would generate confusion among the team and should be avoided.