IDL Modules and Scoping

An IDL module defines a naming scope for a set of IDL definitions. Modules allow you to group interface and other IDL type definitions in logical name spaces. When writing IDL definitions, always use modules to avoid possible name clashes.

The following example illustrates the use of modules in IDL:

      module Finance { 
        interface Account { 
        ... 
        }; 
      }; 

• The interface Account is scoped within the module Finance.
• IDL definitions are available directly within the scope in which you define them.
• In other naming scopes, you must use the scoping operator (::) to access these definitions.

  For example, the fully scoped name of interface Account is Finance::Account

• IDL modules can be reopened.

  For example, a module declaration can appear several times in a single IDL specification if each declaration contains different data types.

  In most IDL specifications, this feature of modules is not required.