Rule categories

Each code analysis rule belongs to a category of rules. For example, design rules support adherence to the .NET design guidelines, and security rules help prevent security flaws. You can configure the severity level for an entire category of rules. You can also configure additional options on a per-category basis.

The following table shows the different code analysis rule categories and provides a link to the rules in each category. It also lists the configuration value to use in an EditorConfig file to bulk-configure rule severity on a per-category basis. For example, to set the severity of security rule violations to be errors, the EditorConfig entry is dotnet_analyzer_diagnostic.category-Security.severity = error.

Tip

Setting the severity for a category of rules using the dotnet_analyzer_diagnostic.category-<category>.severity syntax doesn't apply to rules that are disabled by default. However, starting in .NET 6, you can use the AnalysisMode<Category> project property to enable all the rules in a category.

Design rules

Value
Link to rules Design rules
Description Design rules support adherence to the Framework design guidelines.
EditorConfig value dotnet_analyzer_diagnostic.category-Design.severity
MSBuild property value <AnalysisModeDesign>

Documentation rules

Value
Link to rules Documentation rules
Description Documentation rules support writing well-documented libraries through the correct use of XML documentation comments for externally visible APIs.
EditorConfig value dotnet_analyzer_diagnostic.category-Documentation.severity
MSBuild property value <AnalysisModeDocumentation>

Globalization rules

Value
Link to rules Globalization rules
Description Globalization rules support world-ready libraries and applications.
EditorConfig value dotnet_analyzer_diagnostic.category-Globalization.severity
MSBuild property value <AnalysisModeGlobalization>

Portability and interoperability rules

Value
Link to rules Portability and interoperability rules
Description Portability rules support portability across different platforms. Interoperability rules support interaction with COM clients.
EditorConfig value dotnet_analyzer_diagnostic.category-Interoperability.severity
MSBuild property value <AnalysisModeInteroperability>

Maintainability rules

Value
Link to rules Maintainability rules
Description Maintainability rules support library and application maintenance.
EditorConfig value dotnet_analyzer_diagnostic.category-Maintainability.severity
MSBuild property value <AnalysisModeMaintainability>

Naming rules

Value
Link to rules Naming rules
Description Naming rules support adherence to the naming conventions of the .NET design guidelines.
EditorConfig value dotnet_analyzer_diagnostic.category-Naming.severity
MSBuild property value <AnalysisModeNaming>

Performance rules

Value
Link to rules Performance rules
Description Performance rules support high-performance libraries and applications.
EditorConfig value dotnet_analyzer_diagnostic.category-Performance.severity
MSBuild property value <AnalysisModePerformance>

SingleFile rules

Value
Link to rules SingleFile rules
Description Single-file rules support single-file applications.
EditorConfig value dotnet_analyzer_diagnostic.category-SingleFile.severity
MSBuild property value <AnalysisModeSingleFile>

Reliability rules

Value
Link to rules Reliability rules
Description Reliability rules support library and application reliability, such as correct memory and thread usage.
EditorConfig value dotnet_analyzer_diagnostic.category-Reliability.severity
MSBuild property value <AnalysisModeReliability>

Security rules

Value
Link to rules Security rules
Description Security rules support safer libraries and applications. These rules help prevent security flaws in your program.
EditorConfig value dotnet_analyzer_diagnostic.category-Security.severity
MSBuild property value <AnalysisModeSecurity>

Style rules

Value
Link to rules Style rules
Description Style rules support consistent code style in your codebase. These rules start with the "IDE" prefix.*
EditorConfig value dotnet_analyzer_diagnostic.category-Style.severity
MSBuild property value <AnalysisModeStyle>

* Use the EditorConfig value dotnet_analyzer_diagnostic.category-CodeQuality.severity to enable the following rules: IDE0051, IDE0052, IDE0064, and IDE0076. While these rules start with "IDE", they aren't technically part of the Style category.

Usage rules

Value
Link to rules Usage rules
Description Usage rules support proper usage of .NET.
EditorConfig value dotnet_analyzer_diagnostic.category-Usage.severity
MSBuild property value <AnalysisModeUsage>