private classes inside namespaces [duplicate]

Question

Possible Duplicate:
Namespace only class visibility in C#/.NET ?

What I want is to have a class that is only accessible to other classes inside the same namespace without having to put the namespace in it's own assembly.

Is there a reason this is not possible in C#?

Edit: I have change the question a little, since the compiler tells me that private is not allowed. Can anyone tell me the reason for this?

Answer 1

This is not possible.

You can only restrict the access to the assembly containing the class using the internal modifier.

You could also restrict the access to the class to a single class by making the class a nested class. E.g. if you make class B a private nested class in class A, B will only be accessible by A.

I think these two options are the best you can do. If you really want to restrict the access to the namespace, you will have to put it in a separate assembly.

EDIT: To your second question: why a private class is not allowed. Private classes are only allowed if they are nested within another class. If you make a non-nested class private, what is its use? You cannot access it anyway, so you cannot do anything with it.