---
title: "How does .NET Core handle configuration and settings management?"  
description: "How does .NET Core handle configuration and settings management?"  
author: "Utpal Vishwas"  
published: 2023-06-02  
updated: 2023-06-04  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/forum/158608/how-does-dot-net-core-handle-configuration-and-settings-management  
category: ".net core"  
tags: ["asp.net", "asp.net core", ".net core"]  
reading_time: 2 minutes  

---

# How does .NET Core handle configuration and settings management?

How does .NET Core [handle](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/311004/suede-skillet-handle-cover) [configuration](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/13112/setting-up-the-perfect-configuration-for-your-work-computer) and [settings](https://www.mindstick.com/blog/63563/steps-to-change-the-wireless-settings-using-linksys-cloud-account) [management](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/23490/tips-for-better-cash-flow-management)?

## Replies

### Reply by Aryan Kumar

.NET Core handles configuration and settings management using a combination of configuration providers and configuration files.

A configuration provider is a class that reads configuration data from a specific source. .NET Core includes a number of built-in configuration providers, such as:

- **AppSettings.json:** This provider reads configuration data from a JSON file named appsettings.json in the application's root folder.
- **Environment variables:** This provider reads configuration data from environment variables.
- **Azure App Configuration:** This provider reads configuration data from Azure App Configuration, a cloud-based service for storing and managing configuration data.

In addition to the built-in configuration providers, .NET Core also supports custom configuration providers. Custom configuration providers can be used to read configuration data from any source, such as a database, a file system, or a web service.

Configuration files are used to store configuration data. .NET Core supports a number of different configuration file formats, including:

- **JSON:** JSON is a popular data format that is easy to read and write.
- **XML:** XML is a more complex data format that is more powerful than JSON.
- **Properties:** Properties is a format that is similar to XML, but it is easier to use.

The configuration file that is used by an application is determined by the configuration provider that is used to read the configuration data. For example, if the AppSettings.json configuration provider is used, then the appsettings.json configuration file will be used.

.NET Core provides a number of features to help you manage configuration and settings. These features include:

- **Configuration inheritance:** Configuration values can be inherited from parent to child applications. This can be used to reduce the amount of configuration data that needs to be repeated in multiple applications.
- **Configuration merging:** Configuration values from multiple sources can be merged together. This can be used to combine configuration data from different sources, such as environment variables, configuration files, and custom configuration providers.
- **Configuration validation:** Configuration values can be validated to ensure that they are valid. This can be used to prevent errors caused by invalid configuration values.

By using the features that .NET Core provides for configuration and settings management, you can make your applications more reliable and easier to maintain.


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