nuspec

A nuspec file is an XML manifest used by NuGet to describe how a package should be built and what it contains. The file, typically named something.nuspec, provides metadata and packaging instructions that NuGet uses to produce a NuGet package (.nupkg). It remains compatible with various NuGet tooling and can be created manually or generated by packaging tools.

The primary structure consists of a root package element with a required metadata element and an optional files element. Within metadata, common elements include id, version, authors, owners, licenseUrl or license, projectUrl, iconUrl, description, and summary. Additional fields such as releaseNotes, tags, copyright, and language may also be included. The dependencies element defines other packages required by the package and can be organized into groups by targetFramework, with each dependency specifying an id and a version range.

The files element specifies which files to include in the resulting package and where to place them inside the package. Each file entry maps a source path to a target path within the package, allowing control over lib folders, content files, and other resources.

Usage typically involves creating or updating a nuspec file and running a packaging command, such as nuget pack yourpackage.nuspec. In modern .NET workflows, packaging is often driven by the project file (for example, using dotnet pack or MSBuild with Pack). The nuspec approach remains supported for scenarios requiring explicit, custom packaging outside the project file, legacy workflows, or explicit control over included files and dependencies.