What .NET assemblies will be used for multiple DLLs

Question

I am confused after researching here on Stack Overflow and other sites about which .NET assemblies will be loaded when you have more than one version used in your application. For example the main executable assembly is compiled using .NET 4.5. A referenced assembly is complied using .NET 2.0. In this scenario, would both .NET 4.5 and .NET 2.0 assemblies be used when the application runs? Assume there is no unmanaged code.

Answer 1

In your example, both assemblies will be loaded and run according to their compatible call references. .NET 2.0 can, by design, be called from a .NET 4 assembly.

This fundamental article from Microsoft explains it well:

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms973231.aspx