NET Standard is compatible with libraries that target that. NET Standard exists is for portability it defines a set of APIs that. Ignoring libraries for a moment, the reason that.

That's important, for instance, to make unit test class libraries runnable. NET Core libraries specify a runtime and come with an application model. NET Standard library (such as ) and some of which are not compatible with the. The latter includes approximately 20 additional libraries, some of which we can add manually to our. NET Core libraries come with everything in. NET Standard libraries come with everything in NETStandard.Library whereas. On the other hand, libraries that target. NET Core apps to be compatible with your library.Ĭompatibility: Libraries that target. NET API surface area your library can access, and you are okay with allowing only NET Core library when you want to increase the. NET API surface area your library can access. NET Standard library when you want to increase the number of apps that will be compatible with your library, and you are okay withĪ decrease in the. In Visual Studio, there are at least 3 different types of class library you can create: