C# 5.0 Programmer's Reference

Classes ❘ 271
For more information on attributes, go to these web pages:
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Attributes (C# and C#) (msdn.microsoft.com/library/z0w1kczw.aspx)
Attributes Tutorial (msdn.microsoft.com/library/aa288454.aspx)
For a list of 578 attributes that you can use, go to Microsoft’s “Attribute Class” web page at
msdn.microsoft.com/system.attribute.aspx and look at the “Inheritance Hierarchy” section
at the bottom.
accessibility
If a class is declared directly within a namespace, its accessibility clause must be either public or
internal. You can also omit accessibility, in which case the default is internal.
If a class is declared inside a structure, its accessibility clause can be public, private, or
internal. If the class is declared within a class, the clause can also take the values protected
and protected internal.
The following table summarizes the meanings of these values and when they are allowed.
Keyword Allowed In Meaning
public
internal
private
protected
protected internal
namespace
structure
class
namespace
structure
class
structure
class
structure
class
structure
class
The class is visible to all code inside or outside of
the class’s assembly.
The class is visible only to code inside the
class’s assembly.
The class is visible only to code inside the
containing namespace, structure, or class.
The class is visible only to code inside the
containing structure or class, or in a class derived
from the containing class.
Combines protected and internal.
For example, the following code defines a Person class.
namespace OrderProcessor
{
public class Person
{
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