ASP.NET Core Version History

Level: Reference

ASP.NET Core follows the .NET release cycle. A new major .NET version usually arrives every November. Some versions are LTS and some are STS.

For beginners, the main rule is simple:

• Use the current LTS version when building serious or production projects.
• Use STS only when you specifically want newer features and are ready to upgrade sooner.

LTS vs STS

Type	Full Name	Support Length	Best For
LTS	Long Term Support	About 3 years	Production, company projects, long-term learning
STS	Standard Term Support	About 18 months	Trying newer features, short-term projects

ℹ️ Beginner Recommendation

If you are learning ASP.NET Core now, use .NET 10 LTS when your tools support it. If your training/project environment is still on .NET 8, that is also fine, but understand that .NET 10 is the newer LTS line.

Supported Versions in 2026

Version	Release Type	Released	Support Until	Beginner Advice
.NET 8 / ASP.NET Core 8	LTS	November 2023	November 10, 2026	Still common in companies and courses
.NET 9 / ASP.NET Core 9	STS	November 2024	November 10, 2026	Good for learning new features, not ideal for long production plans
.NET 10 / ASP.NET Core 10	LTS	November 2025	November 14, 2028	Best current LTS choice for new long-term projects

How to Choose a Version

For Students

Use the version your course, company, or project already uses. If you are starting fresh, choose the latest LTS version.

For Production Projects

Prefer LTS because it gives a longer support window and fewer forced upgrades.

For Experimenting

STS is acceptable when you want to try new features, but plan upgrades earlier.

What Changed Over Time

ASP.NET Core 6

• Introduced the simplified Program.cs style.
• Made minimal APIs popular.
• Used widely in many existing tutorials and company apps.

ASP.NET Core 7

• Improved performance and minimal API features.
• STS release, so it was not meant for long-term production use.

ASP.NET Core 8

• LTS release.
• Strong performance improvements.
• Improved authentication, minimal APIs, and cloud-native features.
• Still widely used in real projects.

ASP.NET Core 9

• STS release.
• Continued performance and API improvements.
• Useful for learning newer features, but shorter support than LTS.

ASP.NET Core 10

• LTS release.
• Best current long-term choice for new projects.
• Good target for students starting fresh in 2026.

🎯 Interview Favourite

Q: Why should you prefer LTS versions in production?

Good Answer: "LTS versions receive support for a longer period, usually around 3 years. That means security patches and critical fixes are available for longer. STS versions are useful for trying newer features, but they require upgrades sooner. For production, I prefer LTS unless the project has a strong reason to use STS."

🤖Use AI to Learn Faster

Use ChatGPT, Claude, or Copilot to go deeper on ASP.NET Core version selection. Try these prompts:

• "What is the difference between LTS and STS?"
• "Which .NET version should a beginner use in 2026?"
• "Why do companies prefer LTS versions?"
• "Can I learn ASP.NET Core 8 if .NET 10 exists?"

💡 Tip: After reading this article, paste your own code into AI and ask "What could go wrong here and why?" — fastest way to find edge cases and deepen understanding.

Summary

You do not need to memorize every version. Remember this:

• LTS is safer for production.
• STS is shorter support.
• .NET 10 is the current LTS in 2026.
• .NET 8 is still important because many existing projects use it.

Next: Return to What is ASP.NET Core? if you are starting the course.