MSBuild reserved and well-known properties

MSBuild provides a set of predefined properties that store information about the project file and the MSBuild binaries. These properties are evaluated in the same manner as other MSBuild properties. For example, to use the MSBuildProjectFile property, you type $(MSBuildProjectFile).

MSBuild uses the values in the following table to predefine reserved and well-known properties. Reserved properties cannot be overridden, and most well-known properties shouldn't be overridden except in advanced scenarios.

Reserved and well-known properties

The table in this section shows the MSBuild predefined properties. The example column in the table relates to the following example project file, assumed to be located at C:\Source\Repos\ConsoleApp1\ConsoleApp1, and shows an example of the values these properties have when accessed in the project file, when MSBuild is invoked with no special command-line options.

<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">

  <PropertyGroup>
    <OutputType>Exe</OutputType>
    <TargetFramework>netcoreapp3.1</TargetFramework>
  </PropertyGroup>
</Project>

Property	Reserved or well-known	Description	Example
FrameworkSDKRoot	Well-known	Path to the root folder for .NET Framework tools.	C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v10.0A\
InnerBuildProperty	Well-known	Specifies the property name that defines the multitargeting build dimension (applicable only if the current build is a graph build).	TargetFramework
InnerBuildPropertyValues	Well-known	Specifies the property name that holds the possible values for the InnerBuildProperty (applicable only if the current build is a graph build).	TargetFrameworks
IsGraphBuild	Well-known	True if this is a graph build; that is, the -graphBuild option is in effect. This option means that MSBuild constructs and builds a project graph. Constructing a graph involves identifying project references to form dependencies. Building that graph involves attempting to build project references prior to the projects that reference them, differing from traditional MSBuild scheduling.
MSBuildAssemblyVersion	Reserved	The version of MSBuild assemblies used to build the project.	17.0
MSBuildBinPath	Reserved	The absolute path of the folder where the MSBuild binaries that are currently being used are located (for example, C:\Windows\Microsoft.Net\Framework\<versionNumber>). This property is useful if you have to refer to files in the MSBuild directory. Do not include the final backslash on this property.	C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\MSBuild\Current\Bin\amd64
MSBuildDisableFeaturesFromVersion	Reserved	Used by MSBuild and Microsoft SDKs to manage change waves.
MSBuildExtensionsPath	Well-known	Introduced in the .NET Framework 4: there is no difference between the default values of MSBuildExtensionsPath and MSBuildExtensionsPath32. You can set the environment variable MSBUILDLEGACYEXTENSIONSPATH to a non-null value to enable the behavior of the default value of MSBuildExtensionsPath in earlier versions. In the .NET Framework 3.5 and earlier, the default value of MSBuildExtensionsPath points to the path of the MSBuild subfolder under the \Program Files\ or \Program Files (x86) folder, depending on the bitness of the current process. For example, for a 32-bit process on a 64-bit machine, this property points to the \Program Files (x86) folder. For a 64-bit process on a 64-bit machine, this property points to the \Program Files folder. Do not include the final backslash on this property. This location is a useful place to put custom target files. For example, your target files could be installed at \Program Files\MSBuild\MyFiles\Northwind.targets and then imported in project files by using this XML code: <Import Project="$(MSBuildExtensionsPath)\MyFiles\Northwind.targets"/>	C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\MSBuild
MSBuildExtensionsPath32	Well-known	The path of the MSBuild subfolder under the \Program Files or \Program Files (x86) folder. The path always points to the 32-bit \Program Files (x86) folder on a 32-bit machine and \Program Files on a 64-bit machine.". See also MSBuildExtensionsPath and MSBuildExtensionsPath64. Do not include the final backslash on this property.	C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\MSBuild
MSBuildExtensionsPath64	Well-known	The path of the MSBuild subfolder under the \Program Files folder. For a 64-bit machine, this path always points to the \Program Files folder. For a 32-bit machine, this path is blank. See also MSBuildExtensionsPath and MSBuildExtensionsPath32. Do not include the final backslash on this property.	C:\Program Files\MSBuild
MSBuildFileVersion	Reserved	The 4 part version of MSBuild assemblies used to build the project.	17.4.0.46505
MSBuildFrameworkToolsPath	Well-known	The path to the .NET Framework tools that the currently executing MSBuild was built with, with a trailing slash.	C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\
MSBuildFrameworkToolsPath32	Well-known	The path to the 32-bit version of the .NET Framework tools for the same framework version that the currently executing MSBuild was built with, with a trailing slash.	C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\
MSBuildFrameworkToolsPath64	Well-known	The path to the 64-bit version of the .NET Framework tools for the same framework version that the currently executing MSBuild was built with, with a trailing slash.	C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v4.0.30319\
MSBuildInteractive	Reserved	true if MSBuild is running interactively, allowing user input. This setting is controlled by the -interactive command-line option.	false
MSBuildLastTaskResult	Reserved	true if the previous task completed without any errors (even if there were warnings), or false if the previous task had errors. Typically, when an error occurs in a task, the error is the last thing that happens in that project. Therefore, the value of this property is never false, except in these scenarios: - When the ContinueOnError attribute of the Task element (MSBuild) is set to WarnAndContinue (or true) or ErrorAndContinue. - When the Target has an OnError element (MSBuild) as a child element.	true
MSBuildNodeCount	Reserved	The maximum number of concurrent processes that are used when building. This is the value that you specified for -maxcpucount on the command line. If you specified -maxcpucount without specifying a value, then MSBuildNodeCount specifies the number of processors in the computer. For more information, see Command-line reference and Build multiple projects in parallel.	1
MSBuildOverrideTasksPath	Well-known	The location to search for .overridetasks files, which can be used to provide custom versions of standard tasks. See MSBuild tasks. Do not include the final backslash in the path.
MSBuildProgramFiles32	Reserved	The location of the 32-bit program folder; for example, C:\Program Files (x86). Do not include the final backslash on this property.	C:\Program Files (x86)
MSBuildProjectDefaultTargets	Reserved	The complete list of targets that are specified in the DefaultTargets attribute of the Project element. For example, the following Project element would have an MSBuildDefaultTargets property value of A;B;C: <Project DefaultTargets="A;B;C" >	Build
MSBuildProjectDirectory	Reserved	The absolute path of the directory where the project file is located, for example C:\MyCompany\MyProduct. Do not include the final backslash on this property.	C:\Source\Repos\ConsoleApp1\ConsoleApp1
MSBuildProjectDirectoryNoRoot	Reserved	The value of the MSBuildProjectDirectory property, excluding the root drive. Do not include the final backslash on this property.	Source\Repos\ConsoleApp1\ConsoleApp1
MSBuildProjectExtension	Reserved	The file name extension of the project file, including the period; for example, .proj.	.csproj
MSBuildProjectFile	Reserved	The complete file name of the project file, including the file name extension; for example, MyApp.proj.	ConsoleApp1.csproj
MSBuildProjectFullPath	Reserved	The absolute path and complete file name of the project file, including the file name extension; for example, C:\MyCompany\MyProduct\MyApp.proj.	c:\Source\Repos\ConsoleApp1\ConsoleApp1\ConsoleApp1.csproj
MSBuildProjectName	Reserved	The file name of the project file without the file name extension; for example, MyApp.	ConsoleApp1
MSBuildRuntimeType	Reserved	The type of the runtime that is currently executing. Introduced in MSBuild 15. Value may be undefined (prior to MSBuild 15), Full indicating that MSBuild is running on the desktop .NET Framework, Core indicating that MSBuild is running on .NET Core (for example in dotnet build), or Mono indicating that MSBuild is running on Mono.	Full
MSBuildStartupDirectory	Reserved	The absolute path of the folder where MSBuild is called. By using this property, you can build everything below a specific point in a project tree without creating <dirs>.proj files in every directory. Instead, you have just one project—for example, c:\traversal.proj, as shown here: <Project ...> <ItemGroup> <ProjectFiles Include="$ (MSBuildStartupDirectory) **\*.csproj"/> </ItemGroup> <Target Name="build"> <MSBuild Projects="@(ProjectFiles)"/> </Target> </Project> To build at any point in the tree, type: msbuild c:\traversal.proj Do not include the final backslash on this property.	c:\Source\Repos\ConsoleApp1
MSBuildThisFile	Reserved	The file name and file extension portion of MSBuildThisFileFullPath.	ConsoleApp1.csproj
MSBuildThisFileDirectory	Reserved	The directory portion of MSBuildThisFileFullPath. Include the final backslash in the path.	c:\Source\Repos\ConsoleApp1\ConsoleApp1\
MSBuildThisFileDirectoryNoRoot	Reserved	The directory portion of MSBuildThisFileFullPath, excluding the root drive. Include the final backslash in the path.	Source\Repos\ConsoleApp1\ConsoleApp1\
MSBuildThisFileExtension	Reserved	The file name extension portion of MSBuildThisFileFullPath.	.csproj
MSBuildThisFileFullPath	Reserved	The absolute path of the project or targets file that contains the target that is running. Tip: You can specify a relative path in a targets file that's relative to the targets file and not relative to the original project file.	c:\Source\Repos\ConsoleApp1\ConsoleApp1\ConsoleApp1.csproj
MSBuildThisFileName	Reserved	The file name portion of MSBuildThisFileFullPath, without the file name extension.	ConsoleApp1
MSBuildToolsPath	Reserved	The installation path of the MSBuild version that's associated with the value of MSBuildToolsVersion. Do not include the final backslash in the path. This property cannot be overridden.	C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\MSBuild\Current\Bin\amd64
MSBuildToolsPath32	Well-known	The installation path of the 32-bit MSBuild version that's associated with the value of MSBuildToolsVersion. Do not include the final backslash in the path. This property cannot be overridden.	C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\MSBuild\Current\Bin
MSBuildToolsPath64	Well-known	The installation path of the 64-bit MSBuild version that's associated with the value of MSBuildToolsVersion. Do not include the final backslash in the path. This property cannot be overridden.	C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\MSBuild\Current\Bin\amd64
MSBuildToolsVersion	Reserved	The version of the MSBuild Toolset that is used to build the project. Note: An MSBuild Toolset consists of tasks, targets, and tools that are used to build an application. The tools include compilers such as csc.exe and vbc.exe. For more information, see Toolset (ToolsVersion), and Standard and custom Toolset configurations.	Current
MSBuildSDKsPath	Well-known	The path MSBuild uses to find SDKs.	C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\MSBuild\Sdks
MSBuildSemanticVersion	Reserved	The full semver 2.0 version of MSBuild assemblies used to build the project.	17.4.0-preview-22465-05+6033e4c95
MSBuildUserExtensionsPath	Well-known	This path provides the location for MSBuild installation folder. It can be reset to provide local, per-user customizations. See Customize your local build. Do not include the final backslash in the path.
MSBuildVersion	Reserved	The version of MSBuild used to build the project. This property can't be overridden, otherwise the error message MSB4004 - The 'MSBuildVersion' property is reserved, and can't be modified. is returned.	17.4.0
MSBuildWarningsAsErrors	Well-known	A list of warning codes to treat as errors.	MSB1234;MSB5678
MSBuildWarningsAsMessages	Well-known	A list of warning codes to treat as messages.	MSB1234;MSB5678
MSBuildWarningsNotAsErrors	Well-known	A list of warning codes that should not be promoted to errors even if the -warnAsError switch is set to promote all other warnings to errors. Note that it has no effect if that is not true.	MSB1234;MSB5678
OS	Well-known	On Windows, this is inherited from the host operating system. Possible values include "Windows_NT" and "Unix"; can be set to different values on operating systems other than Windows.
RoslynTargetsPath	Well-known	Path to targets for Roslyn compilers.	C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\MSBuild\Current\Bin\Roslyn
SDK35ToolsPath	Well-known	Path to .NET Framework 3.5 tools.
SDK40ToolsPath	Well-known	Path to .NET Framework 4.0 tools.	C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v10.0A\bin\NETFX 4.8 Tools\
VsInstallRoot	Well-known	The Visual Studio installation folder.	C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022
WindowsSDK80Path	Well-known	Path to the Windows 8 SDK.

Properties specific to C++ projects

The following properties represent the path to the C++ MSBuild import files, such as .props and .targets files, for various C++ toolset versions and target operating systems. The files in these folders represent the C++ build infrastructure and are essential for building any C++ project with MSBuild.

Property	Reserved or well-known	Description	Example
AndroidTargetsPath	Well-known	Path to C++ MSBuild import files for Android builds.	C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\MSBuild\Microsoft\MDD\Android\V150\
iOSTargetsPath	Well-known	Path to C++ MSBuild import files for iOS builds.	C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Preview\MSBuild\Microsoft\MDD\iOS\V150\
VCTargetsPath	Well-known	Path to C++ MSBuild files that support the C++ build system.	C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\MSBuild\Microsoft\VC\v170\
VCTargetsPath10	Well-known	Path to C++ MSBuild files that support the Visual Studio 2010 toolset.	C:\Program Files (x86)\MSBuild\Microsoft.Cpp\v4.0\
VCTargetsPath11	Well-known	Path to the MSBuild import files for the Visual Studio 2012 (V110) toolset.	C:\Program Files (x86)\MSBuild\Microsoft.Cpp\v4.0\V110\
VCTargetsPath12	Well-known	Path to the MSBuild import files for the Visual Studio 2013 (V120) toolset.	C:\Program Files (x86)\MSBuild\Microsoft.Cpp\v4.0\V120\
VCTargetsPath14	Well-known	Path to the MSBuild import files for the Visual Studio 2015 (V140) toolset.	C:\Program Files (x86)\MSBuild\Microsoft.Cpp\v4.0\V140\

Names that conflict with MSBuild elements

In addition to the above, names corresponding to MSBuild language elements cannot be used for user-defined properties, items, or item metadata:

• VisualStudioProject
• Target
• PropertyGroup
• Output
• ItemGroup
• UsingTask
• ProjectExtensions
• OnError
• ImportGroup
• Choose
• When
• Otherwise

See also

• MSBuild reference

• MSBuild properties