Programming .NET Security

Chapter 21. How to Use This Quick Reference

The quick-reference section that follows packs a lot of information into a small space. This introduction explains how to get the most out of that information. It describes how the quick reference is organized and how to read the individual quick-reference entries.

Finding a Quick-Reference Entry

The quick reference is organized into chapters, one per namespace. Each chapter begins with an overview of the namespace and includes a hierarchy diagram for the types ( classes, interfaces, enumerations, delegates, and structs) in the namespace. Following the overview are quick-reference entries for all the types in the namespace.

Figure 21-1 is a sample diagram showing the notation used to depict hierarchies and their relationships. Abstract classes are shown as slanted rectangles, and sealed classes as octagonal rectangles. Inheritance is shown as a solid line from the subtype, ending with a hollow triangle that points to the supertype. There are two notations that indicate interface implementation. The lollipop notation is used most of the time because it is easier to read. In some cases, especially where many types implement a given interface, the shaded box notation with a dashed line is used instead.

Figure 21-1. Class hierarchy notation

Important relationships between types (associations) are shown with a dashed line ending with an arrow. ...