# Namespaces for Second-Generation Managed Packages

A namespace is a 1–15 character alphanumeric identifier that distinguishes your package and its contents from other packages in your customer’s org. A namespace is assigned to a second-generation managed package (managed 2GP) at the time that it’s created, and can’t be changed.

When you specify a package namespace, every component added to a package has the namespace prefixed to the component API name. Let’s say you have a custom object called Insurance_Agent with the API name,`Insurance_Agent__c`. If you add this component to a package associated with the Acme namespace, the API name becomes `Acme__Insurance_Agent__c`.

:::important
When creating a namespace, use something that’s useful and informative to users. However, don’t name a namespace after a person (for example, by using a person's name, nickname, or private information).
:::

When you work with namespaces, keep these considerations in mind.

- You can develop more than one managed 2GP package and associate the packages with the same namespace. But a single managed 2GP package can't be associated with more than one namespace.
- If you work with more than one namespace, we recommend that you set up one project for each namespace.
- It's beneficial for managed 2GP packages to share the same namespace, but it's not required. Carefully consider your package and namespace strategy. After a namespace is associated with a managed 2GP, the association can't be changed.
- There are scenarios where you may prefer to keep a managed 2GP package isolated from other managed 2GP packages you're developing. For example, if you’re developing a product that you intend to sell or spin off, having a unique namespace for that package enables you to transfer the namespace with the package.

**See Also**

- [Create and Register Your Namespace for Second-Generation Managed Packages](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.pkg2\_dev.meta/pkg2\_dev/sfdx_dev_dev2gp_create_namespace.htm)
- [Link a Namespace to a Dev Hub Org](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.pkg2\_dev.meta/pkg2\_dev/sfdx_dev_reg_namespace.htm)
- [Avoid Namespace Collisions in Second-Generation Managed Packages](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.pkg2\_dev.meta/pkg2\_dev/sfdx_dev_dev2gp_namespace_collisions.htm)