.NET Versioning — Which Version to Use

Release Cycle

Microsoft releases a new .NET version every November.

Even numbers = LTS (Long Term Support) → 3 years support
Odd  numbers = STS (Standard Term Support) → 18 months support

.NET 6  (Nov 2021) → LTS → End of support: Nov 2024
.NET 7  (Nov 2022) → STS → End of support: May 2024
.NET 8  (Nov 2023) → LTS → End of support: Nov 2026  ← USE THIS
.NET 9  (Nov 2024) → STS → End of support: May 2026
.NET 10 (Nov 2025) → LTS → End of support: Nov 2028  ← upcoming

Which Version to Use?

Production (new project)   → .NET 8 (LTS, supported until Nov 2026)
Latest features/learning   → .NET 9
Legacy maintenance         → Keep on its current version
Job market                 → .NET 8 (most common in interviews 2024-2025)

Target Framework Monikers

<!-- .csproj — specify .NET version -->
<TargetFramework>net8.0</TargetFramework>         <!-- .NET 8 -->
<TargetFramework>net8.0-windows</TargetFramework>  <!-- .NET 8 Windows only -->

<!-- Multi-target -->
<TargetFrameworks>net8.0;net9.0</TargetFrameworks>

Checking Runtime Version in Code

💻 Try It — Console App

💡 Paste into Program.cs and press F5⌥ GitHub

Console.WriteLine($".NET Version: {Environment.Version}");
Console.WriteLine($"Runtime: {System.Runtime.InteropServices.RuntimeInformation.FrameworkDescription}");
// .NET 8.0.0
// .NET 8.0.1

🤖Use AI to Learn Faster

Use ChatGPT, Claude, or Copilot to go deeper on .NET versioning and LTS. Try these prompts:

• "What is the difference between LTS and STS in .NET?"
• "Which .NET version should I use for a new production project in 2025?"
• "How often does Microsoft release new .NET versions?"
• "What happens when .NET version reaches end of support?"

💡 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.