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namespace MyNamespace {
int ilength;
}
 
namespace MyNamespace {
int iwidth;
}
 
void f() {
  MyNamespace::ilength = MyNamespace::iwidth = 12;
}

The standard library introduces the namespace std for standards-provided declarations such as std::string, std::vector, and std::for_each. However, it is undefined behavior to introduce new declarations in namespace std except under special circumstances. The C++ Standard, [namespace.std], paragraphs 1 and 2 [ISO/IEC 14882-2014], state states the following:

¹ The behavior of a C++ program is undefined if it adds declarations or definitions to namespace std or to a namespace within namespace std unless otherwise specified. A program may add a template specialization for any standard library template to namespace std only if the declaration depends on a user-defined type and the specialization meets the standard library requirements for the original template and is not explicitly prohibited.

² The behavior of a C++ program is undefined if it declares

— an explicit specialization of any member function of a standard library class template, or
— an explicit specialization of any member function template of a standard library class or class template, or
— an explicit or partial specialization of any member class template of a standard library class or class template.

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Altering the standard namespace can cause undefined behavior in the C++ standard library.

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