# `extern_absolute_paths`

The tracking issue for this feature is: #44660

The `extern_absolute_paths` feature enables mode allowing to refer to names from other crates "inline", without introducing `extern crate` items, using absolute paths like `::my_crate::a::b`.

`::my_crate::a::b` will resolve to path `a::b` in crate `my_crate`.

`feature(crate_in_paths)` can be used in `feature(extern_absolute_paths)` mode for referring to absolute paths in the local crate (`::crate::a::b`).

`feature(extern_in_paths)` provides the same effect by using keyword `extern` to refer to paths from other crates (`extern::my_crate::a::b`).

    #![feature(extern_absolute_paths)]

    // Suppose we have a dependency crate `xcrate` available through `Cargo.toml`, or `--extern`
    // options, or standard Rust distribution, or some other means.

    use xcrate::Z;

    fn f() {
        use xcrate;
        use xcrate as ycrate;
        let s = xcrate::S;
        assert_eq!(format!("{:?}", s), "S");
        let z = ycrate::Z;
        assert_eq!(format!("{:?}", z), "Z");
    }

    fn main() {
        let s = ::xcrate::S;
        assert_eq!(format!("{:?}", s), "S");
        let z = Z;
        assert_eq!(format!("{:?}", z), "Z");
    }