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Understanding .NET Standard Versions

.NET Standard is a formal specification of .NET APIs that are intended to be available on all .NET implementations. It was introduced to unify the .NET ecosystem by providing a common set of APIs across different .NET implementations like .NET Framework, .NET Core, and Xamarin. Understanding .NET Standard versions is crucial for developers aiming to create libraries that are compatible across multiple .NET platforms. This article delves into the concept of .NET Standard, its versions, and how they impact your development projects.

What is .NET Standard?

.NET Standard is essentially a set of APIs that all .NET platforms have to implement. It defines a uniform set of BCL (Base Class Library) APIs for all .NET implementations to follow, ensuring that libraries targeting .NET Standard can run on any .NET platform that supports that version of the standard.

Key Benefits of .NET Standard

  1. Code Sharing: .NET Standard allows developers to create libraries that can be used across multiple .NET implementations without modification.
  2. Simplified Versioning: Instead of dealing with different versions of the .NET Framework or .NET Core, you only need to target a .NET Standard version.
  3. Future-Proofing: Targeting .NET Standard ensures your library will be compatible with future .NET platforms that support the same or higher versions of the standard.

Each .NET Standard version adds more APIs to the previous version, meaning higher versions of .NET Standard include all APIs from lower versions plus additional APIs.

Version Compatibility

Here’s a simplified compatibility chart showing which .NET Standard versions are supported by various .NET implementations.

.NET Standard .NET Framework .NET Core Xamarin.iOS Xamarin.Android UWP Unity
1.0 4.5 1.0 10.0 7.0 10.0.10240 2017.1
1.1 4.5.1 1.0 10.0 7.0 10.0.10240 2017.1
1.2 4.5.1 1.0 10.0 7.0 10.0.10240 2017.1
1.3 4.6 1.0 10.0 7.0 10.0.10240 2017.1
1.4 4.6.1 1.0 10.0 7.0 10.0.14393 2017.1
1.5 4.6.2 1.0 10.0 7.0 10.0.14393 2017.1
1.6 4.6.2 1.0 10.0 7.0 10.0.14393 2017.1
2.0 4.6.1 2.0 10.14 8.0 10.0.16299 2018.1
2.1 4.7.2 2.1 12.16 8.0 10.0.16299 2018.1
2.2 4.8 2.2 12.16 8.0 10.0.16299 2018.1


Choosing the Right .NET Standard Version

When deciding which .NET Standard version to target, consider the following.

  1. Target Platform Support: Ensure that the platforms you need to support are compatible with the .NET Standard version you choose.
  2. API Availability: Higher .NET Standard versions include more APIs, so choose the highest version that your target platforms support to access the most features.
  3. Future Compatibility: Higher versions of .NET Standard will be compatible with future .NET implementations, making your library more future-proof.

Practical Example

Let’s say you are developing a library that needs to be used in both a .NET Core application and a Xamarin.iOS app. By targeting .NET Standard 2.0, you ensure that your library can be used across both platforms since both .NET Core 2.0 and Xamarin.iOS 10.14 support .NET Standard 2.0.

Creating a .NET Standard Library

Here's how to create a .NET Standard library using Visual Studio.

  1. Create a New Project: Open Visual Studio and select “Create a new project.”
  2. Select .NET Standard: Choose the “Class Library (.NET Standard)” template and click “Next.”
  3. Configure Your Project: Provide a name and location for your project and click “Create.”
  4. Select .NET Standard Version: In the project properties, choose the .NET Standard version you want to target.
  5. Add Code: Write your library code and build your project. 
    namespace MyStandardLibrary
{
    public class Example
    {
        public string GetMessage()
        {
            return "Hello, .NET Standard!";
        }
    }
}

Using the .NET Standard Library

To use your .NET Standard library in a .NET Core application.

  1. Add Reference: Right-click on your .NET Core project and select “Add Reference.” Choose your .NET Standard library.
  2. Use the Library: In your .NET Core application, you can now use the classes and methods from your .NET Standard library. 
    using MyStandardLibrary;
class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var example = new Example();
        Console.WriteLine(example.GetMessage());
    }
}

Summary

.NET Standard plays a crucial role in unifying the .NET ecosystem, making it easier for developers to create libraries that work across multiple platforms. By understanding .NET Standard versions and their compatibility, you can ensure that your code is versatile, future-proof, and maximizes code reuse. Whether you are a seasoned developer or new to .NET, targeting .NET Standard can simplify your development process and broaden the reach of your applications.


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