# The NAMESPACE file {#namespace}

A [NAMESPACE](http://cran.fhcrc.org/doc/manuals/R-exts.html#Package-namespaces) file defines the functions, classes, and methods that are imported into the namespace, and exported for users.

In the following section we describe what [_Bioconductor_][] reviewers will be looking for in this file.

## Function names

Exported functions should use camel case or underscoring and not include `.`,

which indicates S3 dispatch. Functions starting with `.` should not be exported

as that indicates an internal function.

## Imported functions

Generally `importFrom()` is encouraged over importing an entire package.

However, if there are many functions from a single package, `import()` can be

acceptable. If a particular _Bioconductor_ class is used or extended it is

highly recommended to `import()` the full package so that full class

functionality is inherited automatically; there are exceptions depending on

implementation and necessity.

## Exported functions

Exporting all functions with `exportPattern("^[[:alpha:]]+")` is strongly

discouraged and almost always not allowed. Functions and generics should be

exported individually, for clarity and control.