By [Rick Anderson](https://twitter.com/RickAndMSFT)
The [!INCLUDE[](~/includes/2.1-SDK.md)] includes the `Microsoft.NET.Sdk.Razor` MSBuild SDK (Razor SDK). The Razor SDK:
* Standardizes the experience around building, packaging, and publishing projects containing [Razor](xref:mvc/views/razor) files for ASP.NET Core MVC-based projects.
* Includes a set of predefined targets, properties, and items that allow customizing the compilation of Razor files.
* Typically, a package reference to `Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc` is required to receive additional dependencies that are required to build and compile Razor Pages and Razor views. At a minimum, your project should add package references to:
The preceding packages are included in `Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc`. The following markup shows a project file that uses the Razor SDK to build Razor files for an ASP.NET Core Razor Pages app:
> The `Microsoft.AspNetCore.Razor.Design` and `Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Razor.Extensions` packages are included in the [Microsoft.AspNetCore.App metapackage](xref:fundamentals/metapackage-app). However, the version-less `Microsoft.AspNetCore.App` package reference provides a metapackage to the app that doesn't include the latest version of `Microsoft.AspNetCore.Razor.Design`. Projects must reference a consistent version of `Microsoft.AspNetCore.Razor.Design` (or `Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc`) so that the latest build-time fixes for Razor are included. For more information, see [this GitHub issue](https://github.com/aspnet/Razor/issues/2553).
*`RazorCompileOnBuild`– When `true`, compiles and emits the Razor assembly as part of building the project. Defaults to `true`.
*`RazorCompileOnPublish`– When `true`, compiles and emits the Razor assembly as part of publishing the project. Defaults to `true`.
The properties and items in the following table are used to configure inputs and output to the Razor SDK.
| Items | Description |
| ----- | ----------- |
| `RazorGenerate` | Item elements (*.cshtml* files) that are inputs to code generation targets. |
| `RazorCompile` | Item elements (*.cs* files) that are inputs to Razor compilation targets. Use this ItemGroup to specify additional files to be compiled into the Razor assembly. |
| `RazorTargetAssemblyAttribute` | Item elements used to code generate attributes for the Razor assembly. For example: <br>`RazorAssemblyAttribute`<br>`Include="System.Reflection.AssemblyMetadataAttribute"`<br>`_Parameter1="BuildSource" _Parameter2="https://docs.microsoft.com/">` |
| `RazorEmbeddedResource` | Item elements added as embedded resources to the generated Razor assembly. |
| Property | Description |
| -------- | ----------- |
| `RazorTargetName` | File name (without extension) of the assembly produced by Razor. |
| `RazorOutputPath` | The Razor output directory. |
| `RazorCompileToolset` | Used to determine the toolset used to build the Razor assembly. Valid values are `Implicit`, `RazorSDK`, and `PrecompilationTool`. |
| `EnableDefaultContentItems` | When `true`, includes certain file types, such as *.cshtml* files, as content in the project. When referenced via `Microsoft.NET.Sdk.Web`, files under *wwwroot* and config files are also included. |
| `EnableDefaultRazorGenerateItems` | When `true`, includes *.cshtml* files from `Content` items in `RazorGenerate` items. |
| `GenerateRazorTargetAssemblyInfo` | When `true`, generates a *.cs* file containing attributes specified by `RazorAssemblyAttribute` and includes the file in the compile output. |
| `EnableDefaultRazorTargetAssemblyInfoAttributes` | When `true`, adds a default set of assembly attributes to `RazorAssemblyAttribute`. |
| `CopyRazorGenerateFilesToPublishDirectory` | When `true`, copies `RazorGenerate` items (*.cshtml*) files to the publish directory. Typically, Razor files aren't required for a published app if they participate in compilation at build-time or publish-time. Defaults to `false`. |
| `CopyRefAssembliesToPublishDirectory` | When `true`, copy reference assembly items to the publish directory. Typically, reference assemblies aren't required for a published app if Razor compilation occurs at build-time or publish-time. Set to `true` if your published app requires runtime compilation. For example, set the value to `true` if the app modifies *.cshtml* files at runtime or uses embedded views. Defaults to `false`. |
| `IncludeRazorContentInPack` | When `true`, all Razor content items (*.cshtml* files) are marked for inclusion in the generated NuGet package. Defaults to `false`. |
| `EmbedRazorGenerateSources` | When `true`, adds RazorGenerate (*.cshtml*) items as embedded files to the generated Razor assembly. Defaults to `false`. |
| `UseRazorBuildServer` | When `true`, uses a persistent build server process to offload code generation work. Defaults to the value of `UseSharedCompilation`. |
*`RazorGenerate`– Code generates *.cs* files from `RazorGenerate` item elements. Use `RazorGenerateDependsOn` property to specify additional targets that can run before or after this target.
*`RazorCompile`– Compiles generated *.cs* files in to a Razor assembly. Use `RazorCompileDependsOn` to specify additional targets that can run before or after this target.
* By default, the Razor SDK doesn't publish reference assemblies that are required to perform runtime compilation. This results in compilation failures when the application model relies on runtime compilation—for example, the app uses embedded views or changes views after the app is published. Set `CopyRefAssembliesToPublishDirectory` to `true` to continue publishing reference assemblies.
