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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>

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 MSVC Build Tools (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

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