---
title: Member import visibility (MemberImportVisibility)
framework: swift-compiler
role: article
role_heading: Article
path: swift-compiler/documentation/diagnostics/member-import-visibility
---

# Member import visibility (MemberImportVisibility)

Enables errors for uses of members that cannot be accessed because their defining module is not directly imported.

## Overview

Overview Prior to enabling this feature, it was possible to use a member if it was declared in a module that was transitively imported. MemberImportVisibility unifies the visibility rules for members to match those of top-level, such that only members contained in a direct import are visible: func getFileContents() throws -> String {   // error: initializer 'init(contentsOfFile:)' is not available due to missing import of defining module 'Foundation'   return try String(contentsOfFile: "example.txt") } To resolve the error, add an import of the module that defines the member. Migration -enable-upcoming-feature MemberImportVisibility:migrate Enabling migration for MemberImportVisibility adds fix-its for the missing modules, i.e. those that declare members used in the file and are not directly imported. See also SE-0444: Member import visibility

## See Also

- [Existential any (ExistentialAny)](swift-compiler/documentation/diagnostics/existential-any.md)
- [nonisolated(nonsending) by Default (NonisolatedNonsendingByDefault)](swift-compiler/documentation/diagnostics/nonisolated-nonsending-by-default.md)