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Microsoft Visual Studio 2005/.NET Framework 2.0

Other versions are also available for the following:

.NET Framework Developer's Guide

Creating and Using Strong-Named Assemblies

A strong name consists of the assembly's identity—its simple text name, version number, and culture information (if provided)—plus a public key and a digital signature. It is generated from an assembly file using the corresponding private key. (The assembly file contains the assembly manifest, which contains the names and hashes of all the files that make up the assembly.)

A strong-named assembly can only use types from other strong-named assemblies. Otherwise the security of the strong-named assembly would be compromised.

In This Section

Strong Name Scenario: Provides an overview of creating and referencing strong-named assemblies.

How to: Create a Public/Private Key Pair: Describes how to create a cryptographic key pair for signing an assembly.

How to: Sign an Assembly with a Strong Name: Describes how to create a strong-named assembly.

How to: Reference a Strong-Named Assembly: Describes how to reference a strong-named assembly.

Related Sections

Creating Assemblies: Provides an overview of creating assemblies.

How to: Delay Sign an Assembly (Visual Studio): Explains how to sign an assembly with a strong name after the assembly has been created.