Using nested classes for constants?

Question

What's wrong with using nested classes to group constants?

Like so:

public static class Constants
{
    public static class CategoryA
    {
        public const string ValueX = "CatA_X";
        public const string ValueY = "CatA_Y";
    }
    public static class CategoryB
    {
        public const string ValueX = "CatB_X";
        public const string ValueY = "CatB_Y";
    }
}

Used like so:

Console.WriteLine(Constants.CategoryA.ValueY);
Console.WriteLine(Constants.CategoryB.ValueX);

You could also make the "Constants"-class partial...

Answer 1

Who said it was wrong? Constants can be (and are) defined anywhere in a class hierarchy.

Answer 2

There is some guideline against public nested classes but I think this example falls inside the listed exception (ie: you're good).

Answer 3

Not saying that what you did is wrong, but what about using namespaces instead like this:

namespace Constants
{
    public static class CategoryA
    {
        public const string ValueX = "CatA_X";
        public const string ValueY = "CatA_Y";
    }
    public static class CategoryB
    {
        public const string ValueX = "CatB_X";
        public const string ValueY = "CatB_Y";
    }
}