A container that holds a set of identifiers (names) and ensures that all names within it are unique, preventing naming conflicts when multiple libraries or modules use similar names. Namespaces organize code and provide context for identifiers.
Compound of 'name' + 'space,' coined in 1980s computing to describe designated areas where names exist. The concept emerged from the need to prevent conflicts when combining code from different sources, creating distinct 'spaces' where names could coexist without collision.
Namespaces are like having different phone books for different cities - you can have a 'John Smith' in New York and another 'John Smith' in Los Angeles without confusion because they exist in different namespaces (cities). Programming uses this same idea to keep function names organized!
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